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Cornell University Library
PR 4725.G18B7
The book of Tephi.
3 1924 013 458 819
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tine Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 92401 345881 9
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
J. A. GOODCHILD
AUTHOR OF
'SOMNIA MEDICI," "thE TWO THRONES,'
"my friends at SANt' AMPELIO," ETC.
SID CO NEM
NEM CO DOM AN
DOMAN FO NIM
NERT HI CACH
' He is cursing in rhyme, and with two assonances in every line of his curse."
The Crucifixion of the Gleeman, by W. B. Yates
LONDON
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TROBNER & CO. Ltd.
1897
PREFACE
In 1886 I published a fragment of this tale which
some of my reviewers then invited me to complete.
I have been unable to accept this invitation earlier
owing to my own ignorance of the story as told by
the Irish bards ; and these, so far, give me little help
between the departure of the " sea-king's daughter
from over the sea " from Taphanes and her arrival in
Ireland ; though I fancy that eventually something
might be gleaned upon this head from other Celtic
sources, particularly those in which the name Inogen
or its congeners appears. My own rough and erro-
neous reproduction of the main features of a story
which has deeply influenced the national, clerical and
literary history not merely of Celtdom, but of all non-
Sclavonic Europe, is chiefly based upon the excellent
modem translations of Messrs Standish O'Grady,
Whitby Stokes, and others ; whilst I must recognise
the claim made by Gillariach, the crouchbacked,
O'Clery, to kindly remembrance for preserving cer-
tain important details which would otherwise probably
have been lost.
vi PREFACE
Mark well the imagery in the following imaginary
passage from a discourse of a tattered and shorn
disciple of Mog Ruach to a scanty but appreciative
audience. It is taken from that sermon which he
preached under the stars of a frosty Samhaim, being
in soreness of body, and in very great bitterness of
soul under the cursings of St Maelruan, and of the
holy bishop Magnenn.
" Ye that would still hear the wisdom of Semias,
servant of the Holy, which he learned of Rudrofheasa,
knoiv how the common a7nongst you say that there be
many gems in the pool of Crotta Cliath, and indeed
your saying is a true one. Also ye call that pool the
Lake of the Dragon's Mouth, and wherefore ? — It was
in that pool that Ternog's nurse saw the great salmon
which St Fursa cursed for a dragon into its tnud. —
Now, I swear unto you that this same dragon shall
carry St John upon his day when he rideth to avenge
his brother John Baptist upon the female saints of
Eriu. On that day's eve is Fian Cinged born under
the Brat Baghach. Threescore and ten stars are
counted to it. Yet, oh my so?i, beware the black
fourhorned moon which hath wings as hands, for thou
art tender. Nevertheless, if those brethren be near,
thou a?'t safe with thy thousands upon Roth Ramach
when thou wieldest the threefold besom. I see the
PREFACE vii
slender pillar to whose bolts men are blind. He that
heareth is deafened. Him that they seek, is dead.
Thus must my White Star diminish the red moon
and the third of the birds of prey. Lo, herein is the
wise teaching of Morfessa of Fal, and of Uiscias which
he taught in Tasiac Tuathaib tipon the field of Mell.
This is that lore which Cesair daughter of the Great
King gathered of Emmais in Egypt when she fled
from the flood and rested ere the ships were burned at
Belgadati. Hereof she instructed Mac Indoge before
she entered the sacred treasurehouse. Well do ye know
these things, and because of them shall Magnenn and
Maelruan of Tamlacht be hurled into your lake, and
Dil, the darling of my heart, swim upon Masbuskala
to destroy them. Yea, let curses of mighty Ollams and
Anrads, and my own curse which is less worthy, rest for
ever upon all that call the blackmaned heifer " sow " or
"serpent" ; and may her rugged one with the tusks of
Ms fork root up their graveyards, that their dry bones
may be foul beneath the sun and lie upon the heap for
ever."
Upon such bottom for dragon or salmon lie objects
strongly refractive to starlight, though dark under the
candelabra of Pontiff or Kaiser. Experts are no
doubt right in referring them to the Fata Morgana,
but have not tested them with X Rays at present.
viii PREFACE
The commons still value rough specimens above coral
and stoneware penates of nature and art, but I trust
that few modern depreciators of Celtic moonstones
will accept the suggestion of Irenseus, and the author
of the " Testament of the Patriarchs," and expanded
by many subsequent writers, that they are the produce
of the Swart Sow and Malemantus of Dan. I may
remark here that the general argument of the latter
writer is against Levi, patron-patriarch of Peter and
Patrick, rather than of John and Pelagius.
I am far too ignorant to analyse them. My own
specimens are here, much dulled by my fingering.
If they be pebbles irridescent with scum, they may
be cleaned and reported upon by the mineralogist.
If St Fursa is of her original opinion, she should get
St George to help her to look after them : but if the
Great Salmon of OUamhaba was indeed seen by
Ternog's nurse, by the aid of Ruacha Aodhfecis,
many of its ova are hatched already, and the re-
mainder lack but twenty-five years of their fullest
term.
J. A. GOODCHILD.
June lyd, 1897.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Chapter I
(1) Tephi prodaimeth her titles ; (2) her lament for Jerusalem ;
(3) she telleth of her hiding, mid reneweth her lamen-
tations.
(i) Tephi, born in the House of the High Ones, —
(Princes of Zion,
Zion loved of the Lord, — home of the House
of our God,)
Daughter of David, shepherd in Judah, — (Tribe
of the Lion)
Queen over Bethel and Dan, — where they be
scattered abroad.
(2) Is not the Word made sure? — We are spread
forth in alien places.
Fire that was kindled in wrath — burns to the
uttermost Hell.
Cry in the night oh Judah, — Thy wise men
covered their faces.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Howl for thy young lions slains, — princes led
captive to Bel.
I, even I am left, — to cry from the uttermost
region, —
(Far off isles of the West,— home of the
remnant of Dan,)
Sown as a thistle on earth is Jacob, — the names
of us legion.
Tongue of the Hebrew fails, — shall not be
spoken of man.
Isaac is ploughed in his furrows, — before the
Lord in this season
Water the tender plant, — twig of the loftiest
shoot.
How is the cedar left bare — in its boughs was
corruption and treason.
Crown of it bended to Baal, — serpents devour-
ing its root.
Rest for the flock of the Lord — was not found in
the shade of the cedar.
Broken it lies. It burns. — Yea, as a thorn
'neath a pot.
Kidlings are seething therein — shot down by the
archers of Kedar.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 3
Foemen are warmed thereby, — fire of its
furnace is hot.
Children of Edom dance, — yea, leap in the place
which is Holy.
Bethlehem boweth in chains, — trodden as
clay in the mire.
How are our walls broken down, — that the pride
of our mighty is lowly.
Yea we wander 'mid stones, — deserts of thistle
and briar.
(3) I, that am old was young, — but my heart ran
down into water.
Hearing battle and strife, — terror that riseth
by night.
Princes and warriors stricken, — fallen like sheep
unto slaughter ;
Women's wails in the streets, — outside the
clamour of fight.
How are the nobles fallen ! — Yea, they were
strong, they were ruddy.
Fat with the firstlings of flocks, — strong with
the strength of the vine.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Now are they white with famine, — their garments
of purple are bloody ;
Meat, is flesh of the child. — Blood of our
people is wine.
These were as water spilled — on the ground
before Nebuchadnezzar
Drops that the dogs licked up, — Have they
not gathered and fled.
Leaving the women and babes, — Chaldaeans
should slaughter at pleasure.
I that was babe of the Kings — trembled alone
by my bed.
(3) Yet one came thither unchid, to the place of
the women he passed.
Feared of the king and hated, his hour had
come at the last.
In the room of the sire, the prophet, the prisoner
none might heed
Came through the wasted harvest to gather the
chosen seed.
Sternly he bade me to follow. I dared not look
in his face
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 5
As he led me by secret ways to a cave 'neath
the Hohest Place.
Here was my one sure hold, and I dreaded it
not for the dark,
But I knew the fear of the Lord, I knew that His
holy Ark
Was near and I trembled for these, and I ate
the water and bread
Of affliction full three days wherein I dwelt as
the dead.
Till I heard the voice of Baruch smite from
the opened roof
" The foe is gone from the gates, and the path
of our way made smooth."
Then forth in the veil of smoke from the ashes
wherein she weeps
We passed through the walls of Zion, her
palaces fallen in heaps.
Look, cry aloud for she slumbers, — dreaming a
dream that awakes not ;
Weep, tear thy garments in shame, — ashes and
dust on thy head.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Yea, though the wilderness howl, — yet the voice
of Jerusalem speaks not ;
Mourn for her exiles, mourn, — none break the
rest of her dead !
Where is the House of the Lord ?— Desolation
and mourning and sorrow !
Where is the place of the King? — Torrent-
gash sun-scorched and brown.
River of rocks, burnt bones ! — There the lizard
shall see him the morrow,
Scorpions find them a place, — conies make
nests for their own.
Chapter II
(l) Tephi addresseth her sons, and telleth of her going into
Egypt i (2) she prophesieth blindness on Joseph and
Judah; (3) she dwelleth as Pharaoh's daughter at
Tahpanes ; (4) Baruch heareth of the road to Tarshish ;
(5) the Prophet prophesies against Egypt.
(i) My children remember Zion. Moreover I bid
you to mark
That the word of the Lord is holy, though His
purpose therein be dark.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 7
Ye know how we came unto Mizpah, and trusted
in peace to dwell
With the servant of God that was slain there. It
needs not of this to tell ;
But of this my sons take heed, shall not your
hearts understand
How the Prophet of Zion prayed that our steps
might be stayed in the Land ?
Shall ye not read in His book of the hope of our
rest undone
Of Ismael's fraud, of the tumult and flight, and
of Shuphan's son
And how we went into Egypt ?
(2) Nay, Joseph shall long be blind,
An ox that sleepeth at midnight, and Judah
couched as a hind.
The lion hath fled from his lair. The ox hath
wandered astray
Till the dawn of the East be red, and the night of
the North be grey,
In the night shall no man know them, or the
signs that be left to show
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Where the shepherd keepeth the ox, whilst the
lion is couched full low.
Not by the banks of Jordan, not on the Holy
Hill
Are Ephraim's feet till his furrows be ploughed
unto Yahveh's will.
Bethlehem's field is empty. The shepherd
follows astray.
Hear ye my words, oh my sons, for the Isles shall
await the day.
Tephi, I was but weak, a little thing in men's eyes,
A tender twig of the cedar, yet sheltered of
prophesies.
The Prophet of 'God revealed this. Is not his
speech made plain ?
He came to root and destroy. He went forth to
plant again.
In our fields he found no vineyard, on our past-
ures a wasted soil,
No place for the shade of cedars, no depth of
the earth for oil.
Till the Land be fed by the Goim,* and the tale
of their slaughters told
* Nations.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 9
The days shall be slowly numbered, and the hope
of the hills wax old.
(3) I was led as a slave into Egypt, as a captive to
Pharaoh's hand
For the will of the son of Kareah rested still on
our band.
But the heart of Pharaoh was softened. He
gave us a resting place.
As daughters we stood before him, and the
Prophet of God found grace
To lead us unto Taphanes, henceforth amongst
men to be
Jehudia, House of the daughter of Judah, mind-
ful of me
Unto the ending of days.
(4) Therein a space was our rest
Till Baruch the scribe found tidings out of the
Isles of the West
That the ways unto Tarshish were open, the ships
of Javan afar,
lo THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And vessels of Tyre went forth on the left of the
raclen's* star
From the tongue of the sea to Melcarth's porch
of the setting sun,
Whence Northward and West they sailed till the
Island of Towers was won,
On its righthand Bregan and Eber, on its left
that water whose bound
Is the Promise of God, wherein His purpose
shall yet be found.
(5) Then the Prophet prophesied greatly of wrath
and of woe to come
Upon Misraim's king and people, and all that
made Cush their home.
Weak and poor shall it be. Three kings shall
come from the East
Nimrod, Madai and Elam to break down the
sacred beast.
Javan and Chittim thereafter from the islands
shall issue forth
To rule the rivers of Egypt and bear their spoils
to the North,
* Merchants.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI ii
Tursi and Roumi shall reign over these with an
iron yoke
Till the gateway of Heaven be opened, and the
fetters of death be broke ;
Yet the land shall be filled with trouble, lamen-
tation, weeping and pain.
Though the Prince of Peace be born, and be
lifted on high to reign
On the holy Hills; for Sheba and Dedan shall
overflow.
And across the broad Euphrates the moon shall
arise in woe ;
As blood shall it shine from the world's high
roof to its western gate,
A crescent that never fiUeth, and the Star of Peace
shall it hate
Till the night be wellnigh ended j and ships
come out of the West
Whose mouths are as stinging serpents, and fires
are within their breast ;
Yet the angels of God are with them. The Rolls
of the Law they bear.
The spirit of peace is with them, and the promise
of peace they share.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Then Egypt shall be as water, Yet now shall the
Nations rise,
And the books be opened upon them, yea, even
in all men's eyes,
Of the wrath and the promise of Jacob, his sons
be purged of their guilt,
The ways of the King be open ; and that house
of our God be built
That shall never henceforth be shaken.
These things be graved and set
In the lime by the kilns of Pharaoh. Their
place shall be hidden yet.
Therewith is my story written, and carved on
stone by the scribes
Are secrets of things which shall be, and the
names of eleven tribes
At the end of their days appointed, but Judah
goes thither and fro
As a stricken lion in the pit till the hour of the
final woe.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 13
Chapter III
(l) The sisters of Tephi desiring to remain in Egypt die there ;
(2) A vessel of Tarshish cometh into one of the mouths
of the Nile ; {3) Tephi goeth from Taphanes, hut is
anointed before her going ; (4) her prophecy thereupon*
(i) My sisters ye mourned not for Zion, though
short was your day and sad,
Ye loved the fleshpots of Egypt, and marvelled
my soul was glad
That the time of our voyage drew nearer. Ye
longed with her gods to stay,
And the Angel of Death drew sword and both
were slain in a day.
* When wilting this part of my tale, my ignorance of the
details of the story told by Irish writers led me into an
injustice to Maacha and Bathba the sisters of Tephi. The
former is said by them to have fallen whilst encouraging her
sister's troops in the wing commanded by Nuadh at Moytura,
but there are many errors and omissions in this work which
would require far more skill and patience than I possess to
rectify, in my endeavour to repair the neglect into which the
tale has fallen. All my readers will however have caught one
glimpse at least of these three weeping queens in the barge of
King Arthur, as they bear him away to await his time and their
own.
14 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Then the servants of idols bound ye in aloes
and spice and myrrh,
And we laid you amongst the heathen, but not
in their sepulchre.
Baruch hath written your names on the wood,
and o'er either face
Skilled workmen moulded the gold where ye wait
in your resting place.
I might not weep. Ye had sinned. Upon
Egypt's sin was your love ;
And the cry of the Man of God drew down His
wrath from above.
(2) Now a ship drew near into haven, a ship from
the far-off seas.
Whose pilot was child of the Dannites, whose
sails had filled to the breeze
In the boundless river of God. Returned from
the storehouse of tin.
It had weathered the sea of storms, and the
waters that rage therein.
Her tin she sold to the founders of brazen
vessels, and lead
THE BOOK OF TEPHI ij
That was cast in bolts for the slingers ; with many
tires for the head
Of the locks that I knew too well, of the tresses
that shimmer fire
Which flickers before men's eyes and fills their
hearts with desire ;
And amber from wizard lands at whose dread
the Lochlann mocks
When he sails his hidebound boat through the
sea of the floating rocks,
Whence monsters with horns arise to behold the
sun lie red
On the lap of the sea by night, nor reigns he
at noon o'erhead.
Swiftly they loaded the ship with the good things
out of the land,
Rich garments, and potter's vessels, and arms for
a chieftain's band,
And beads of glass for the women, and oil and
almonds and spice.
And gold of the cunning workmen, and food
with their merchandise ;
Till we 'scaped in the night from Pharaoh, but
hid in the field that day
i6 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Whilst the hand of the Lord held back the
watchmen that barred our way.
(3) We were five that rode upon asses, and five by
the mules they led
Whereon were the things brought forth from the
House of the Lord when we fled,
The stone of Jacob our father, the Seat wherein
Yahveh dwells
Upon sacred things whereof the Book of the
Prophet tells ;
And the signs of my father David, on whom was
the promise stayed
Bright as the crown of the dawn, deep as the
midnight shade,
Strong as the purpose of God when he fashioned
the land from the sea,
A hope for the sons of Adam, that the chosen of
Him should be
A King over men for ever ; yea, unto the Lord's
own day
When the land shall be broken in dust, and the
sea shall vanish away.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 17
Upon me was that promise fallen. For me was
the Prophet's toil.
He had signed me with David's signet, anointed
mine head with oil.
He had set mine hands to the harp ; he had
bidden me hold the spear ;
The buckler was girt to my bosom, and Baruch
and he drew near
To set my feet upon Bethel, the Stone that is
seen this day
That my seed may rest upon it where'er it is
borne away,
And its promise be sure beneath them, strong
to uphold their throne.
Though the builders cast it aside, it shall never
be left alone.
These things we did at Taphanes ere we fled to
the haven of ships,
And the spirit of God came on me ; His promise
rose to my lips.
I spake, and I bade go forward, and the sons
of the Lord obeyed.
And the Prophet of God bowed down, and
this was the song that I made.
B
i8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
(4) As a seed in a desert amongst thorns —
I am fallen. I am blown by the wind.
In thy garden, in thy pleasant field, beloved, —
Is no water, is no rest that I may find.
Bel hath broken down thy cisterns and thy
founts, —
Esau cast his sum upon thee in thy woe.
Misraim's night is as a darkness to be felt, —
Follow ye with me the sun where'er it go.
Follow after, follow after, my beloved, —
Follow after by the pathways of the deep.
Leave thecloud of midnight thickupon thisland. —
Go before the sun that riseth out of sleep.
Plant me far upon the far green hills. —
Ye have poured a living oil into mine heart,
The waters of the sea shall gird me round, —
As the armour of the shield when I depart.
My children hearken to an holy harp, —
As a certain sign of promise this shall be.
The spear within my right hand will I keep, —
As the sceptre of the billows of the sea ;
And the lion of my signet is a sign, — *
* Tephi is alluded to by an early writer as the "blackhaired
heifer, the dark heaven-sealed chief, the lion.''
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 19
Yea he roareth unto them that dwell afar.
And the name of God engraved therein shall
cry,—
In the darkness as a light and guiding star.
Chapter IV
(i) Tephi goeth from Egypt and cometh unto Carthage ; (2)
The Prophet maketh the Burden of the city ; (3) A
storm cometh out of the desert and the 'ship is driven
away until they come to a river in a strange country.
(i) On a moonless night and a cloudy we shipped
and we passed away
In the veils of the Lord from Egypt. The breath
of His mouth was our stay
Three weeks in our sails to westward. Thus
favour was in the eyes
Of the men of the ship upon us, and I talked
with our pilot wise,
Buchi the son of Helek, whose marvellous words
were truth
He had gathered in many waters, an old man
now from his youth.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Who in barks of Dan and Javan had raised up
sails as a boy
For the sons of some that Ulick son of Liart
brought back from Troy.
I heard of the painted talking birds in gardens
with fruits of gold ;
And fish islands spouting fountains ; and one
terrible tale he told
Of a giant that dwelt amongst trees, and descend-
ing rended in twain
Three Miledhs * that sought him with target
and spear, but in fight were slain.
In his hairy hands were they twisted, yea, as a
stalk that is bent
On the myrtle ere it be gathered, so were they
broken and rent.
Thus we came to the Kirjath Hadtho, and
moored at the long fair wharf
Whence Ham and his camels athirst seek the
treebuilt homes of the dwarf,
And beheld the Bozrah above it, yet set not
our feet therein,
* Warriors, Milesians (Milites).
THE BOOK OF TEPHI ai
For Canaan, Phut and Lubim be wholly bound
unto sin ;
And Buchi spake of their princes, and how when
a Shophet died,
His wives were brought to his burning, his slaves
to be crucified ;
Of Ashtaroth and of Tanith, queen harlots of
cruel name
Whom the Foeni brought from the East ere into
their land they came,
And of Baal whom Yahveh hateth. He dwelleth
amongst you still.
Ye sons of Erin, I know ye. I know that your
hands work ill.
Root up the groves from among you. Cast down
his seats on the tors.
His fires are destroyers of gladness, his feasting
my soul abhors.
(2) Hear ye, hear ye, that which he spake, the
Prophet of God
When he stood betwixt Baruch and Buchi and
stretched on that land his rod.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
" Baal shall be broken," he said, " Yet he shall
rise as the sun,
Red and gold is his rising. Swiftly his course he
shall run.
Unto the isles of the West, unto the uttermost sea,
Unto the land of the Sikels surely his border
shall be.
Nemidh kneeleth his camel, fat is he waxen, and
full.
The wealth of many waters hath swollen the hide
of the bull.
A son is born him in season. Yea, as a tiger's whelp,
To the West doth he leap, to the North, to the
South. There is none that may help.
By his teeth are men slain, in his claws they are
rent, and the chief of his prey
Are the cubs of the wolf who mourns not, but
ever croucheth at bay.
In the blood of her cubs he is sick, he is bhnd,
he is drunken, he falls.
Hear it, ye gods of the heathen. Hear it, ye far-
stretching walls.
The wrath of the she-wolf is sated. Your place
is spread as a plain.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 23
Your altars of blood are cast down. Your fires
unto Baal are vain.
The Tusci and Roum burn you. Their host is
come out of the North,
As on Nimrod and Assur and Edom and Tyre,
the curse hath gone forth,
Thy sons shall be few and scattered, thy daughters
carried to shame.
Thy walls be broken for ever, thy temples set to
the flame."
(3) The West was blood as he spake. The sky was
black on the land,
The blast of a furnace sped from the trackless
ocean of sand
Bearing the wrath of Baal, and smote on the
Prophet's mouth,
But the hand of the Lord was with us to turn our
way from the South.
Our sails were rent, and the men of the vessel
cursed us by names
Of their gods, but feared the Prophet who called
out of heaven its flames.
24 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Fire and hailstones and thunders, and hills from
the tossing sea ;
But I stood beside him and feared not, for helpers
of heaven were we.
Seven days did I stand beside him with Buchi
the pilot of Dan,
And the eyes of the Foeni hated, yet hoped in
the waveworn man
And the child and the Prophet only ; for Baruch
kept watch below
By the Stone and prayed upon it to comfort my
women's woe.
Whither we went we knew not, yet Buchi stood
by the helm.
Whilst the waves sped hungry after, but dared not
to overwhelm
The Prophet of God, and the daughter of hope
who stood by his side,
That the name of the Lord might stand, and his
promise be magnified.
But the Fcein bowed down and blessed us when
now on the seventh day
The sea was at Sabbath stillness, and we entered
a little bay
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 25
By the mouth of an unknown river that ran from
East unto West,
And lay tawny beside the shore where we anchored
and lay at rest.
Chapter V
(i) Baedan the son of Buchi goeth to search the land and catcheth
Julus a man of the Roumi who is greatly dangered thereat ;
(2) The Prophet prophesieth upon him and he departeth;
(3) The ship passeth by an island, and a prophecy is set
thereon.
(i) Then the men consulted together, and marvelled
upon that spot,
And Boedan the son of Buchi was chosen of them
by lot
To lead our skiff to the shore, and find of the
folk thereby
What hap had fallen upon us, and whither our
course should lie.
Now Bcedan brought us a man that they caught
in a bushy field.
On his head a brazen helmet, on his left arm a
broad round shield.
26 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
At his thigh a short stiff falchion. His feet were
mired in the clay
Of the marsh where Bcedan traced him, and
caught and brought him away.
Now the man bent not before us, but gazed with
a steadfast eye
On our engines of war and weapons, and spake
no word of reply
Unto Buchi who spake all tongues, till the gaze
of the Prophet fell
Upon him compelling and silent, and then he
spake full well
In a tongue that the Sicans use. " I come from
the she-wolf's hold
Nigh at hand on the river, to seek a sheep of my
fold.
I am very wroth, ye Foeni. I am wroth with the
son of Dan.
I am wroth with all amongst ye save this damsel
and aged man.
Save for these I had not spoken. Avoid ye the
she-wolPs lair.
Of the hill of the great Dayfather I say unto you,
beware.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 27
If your course be west, sail westward ; whither, I
would not know,
For the door of Janus is wide where'er I have
will to go.
If I find ye, be ye heedful. My sword blade is
short and strong.
And my shield as a wall before me. Bind me
not with a thong,
Lest wolves in pack be upon ye. Julus hath
many mates
That snarl in the lair, but howl as one from the
towers and gates."
(2) The Servant of God stood silent, and gazed in
that strong man's face
With eyes like starfilled sapphires as he spake of
his name and place.
Then bade his thongs be severed, that each
before each might stand
Eye upon eye ; and we parted ourselves upon
either hand
As the prophet lifted his gaze to call down bless-
ing and curse
28 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Unto kindreds and peoples and times, unto
better hap and to worse,
Whilst that chief stood silent, proud, in his eye
the forward gleam
Of a shield on a wall that holdeth the sun with a
steadfast beam.
" Thou art set in the night to watch. The towers
of thy watch are seven.
As a strong man armed thou shootest thine
arrows at highest heaven.
Did not I see thee afar by the Bozrah with long-
built walls.
Thou bendest three spears beneath it, upon the
latest it falls.
Thy swords are many and strong, thy quiver is
wide and full.
Thy shafts are swiftly sped o'er all the plain of
the bull.
Javan and Chittim are pierced ; Eber and Phut
are low ;
Lud and Aram are stricken before the strength of
thy bow.
Misraim is thine, and the half of Gomer's bands,
and the Gaal.
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 29
All shall be given thy prey because thou hast
cast down Baal,
On the silver wall of the islands thy farthest hunt-
ing shall be
Ere the packs of the wolf are stayed by the
dams of the stormy sea.
War is thy birthright, war is thy joy, and warfare
thy bane.
Peace shall be very near thee, and under thee
Peace be slain
In the street of the Holy City. Iron and brass
and clay
Thou standest, and shalt be broken, thy watch-
towers be for a prey
To the beasts of the field, and the fish of the sea,
and the fowls of the air.
Thine helm is parted asunder, the crown of thy
head left bare
To the winds of the East and the North. Out of
Magog, Gomer, and Tur
With biting hail thou art driven, thy sword blade
hath lost its spur
In the lap of thy wives, in the fulness of feasts,
in the slavehood of power,
30 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
In thy fetters of gold thou art lost; yet there
cometh a later hour
When swordless thou risest again with a woman's
cunning device
Of tongue and snares of the eye the souls of men
to entice.
By the Name thou hatest at heart, thou callest
the nations afar.
The words in thy mouth are honey, but as worm-
wood thine actions are.
This also long will I bear till the goats be set
from the sheep.
For I set thee a watch of the night, and this My
watch shalt thou keep."
(3) These things he spake to Julus and bade him
hide in his heart
The blessing and cursing mingled, and gave him
grace to depart
Ere we sailed betwixt mighty islands, both kept
of a savage folk.
Now the Southward sells sons unto Egypt, but
the Northerners brook no yoke.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 31
Here the Prophet foretold how in latter days an
eagle should fly
From his eyrie amongst the mountains which
lifted heads to the sky,
Swift at the swarming of Gower, but lacking
strength to endure.
Unstable, his beak be dipped in the prey with a
hold unsure.
Chapter VI
{ I ) ^ prophecy upon Eber ; (2) the ship cometh unto the Pen
of the Cape, and to Caer Melcarth ; (3) Elier the son of
Ziza greeteth its coming; (4) Tephi landeth and blesses
Elier and his sons, and is greeted by the Rock of the
Gate.
(i) In short space we draw unto Eber, a land of
mountain and vale.
Purple and gold were its hills, and the Prophet
took up his tale.
" Thou art servant to Baal, oh Heber ; a servant
of him that shall slay
32 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
The leopard of Baal and his bull. Thy strength
is taken away
Before the wind of the North, before the wind
of the South
Till Gad and Tarshish arise to rend the bits from
their mouth.
Swift upon wheels they roam, yea, wheeling,
follow the course
Of the sun in his fields afar. They are each as a
swift red horse
Wanton therein for a while. In their hearts is
an evil thought
Lusting for things set apart, how low shall their
lust be brought.
They are halt in their northward leap to the
whitewalled tower of the sea,
Its warders shall overtake them, and great shall
their burden be."
(2) Then drifting in calms to southward, we drew
towards the Pen of the cape
Of the rock that keepeth the Seagate and weareth
a lion's shape
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 33
And watcheth both Phut and Eber, and inward
keepeth the sea,
And outward the endless waters that storm it
eternally.
A kingly strength it arises hoary and huge, the
crown
Of the pilot's hope who gazes. Thither the ships
go down
And may not avoid the watchmen. Narrow the
sea-gates are,
And Javan and Tursis stand where Canaan
holdeth the bar.
Their chapmen must chafer hardly with those
from the outer deep
For ivory, apes and gold and tin, with grain and
wool of the sheep ;
For Canaan found her pathways to the hiding
of men's desire,
And the spoils of all outer peoples have builded
the fanes of Tyre
Which shall fall, even now are falling. The
daughter of Zidon is low.
Is her burden not recorded, her nakedness,
shame, and woe ?
c
34 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
(3) Yet here was her mother her bondslave, cleansing
her gate of the West
'Neath the Pen of the foot of Eber, and receiving
therein her guest ;
For a strong Caer Zidon builded, and called it
by Melcarth's name,
And Gad and Simeon were with her when into
that cape we came
Under Elier the son of Ziza, who had knelt at
Melcarth's shrine,
But was circumcised in his fathers, and cursed
not the name Divine,
And knew the teaching of Moses, and ruled by
the Book of the Law,
And yearned unto Jacob and David and that
which their souls foresaw.
Six months he had mourned for Zion, but now
in the seventh moon
He wept by the wall of his Caer from the dawning
of day till noon.
His youth had been bloody and headstrong.
His age was silent and wise.
And the men of Zidon obeyed him, and great he
was in their eyes.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 35
Now at noon he prayed unto Zion, and far on
the eastern sky
Rose our sail. Then the son of Ziza cried with
a joyful cry,
For the spirit of God was with him, "Prepare
we a feast this day.
Six months was my fast appointed, but now it is
lifted away.
My ashes are cleansed, pour forth a precious oil
for mine head.
Set jewels upon my fingers to greet one sent by
the dead.
My purple cloak shall be on me, my gems upon
either ear.
My bracelets of gold, my breastplate of gold are
meet to appear
In the eyes of those that bring tidings. Yea,
yonder behold the wings
Of a dove, the branch in whose mouth was
planted of mighty kings,
And watered of blood, and pruned that hence-
forward it send forth shoots
Till its crown be lifted to heaven and earth be
filled with its roots."
36 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
(4) Three hours ere set of the sun we came to the
strong-built wall,
Then the Prophet of God cried forth, and Elier
came at his call,
And knelt on the ground and answered of all
that he had prepared,
How his heart had leaped within him, and now
as a wand lay bared
And stript in our sight ; and his sons knelt by
him on either hand.
That the Man of God might bless them as he set
his feet on their land.
But he craved my blessing also, that captain
hoary and grim,
So I set my palm to his forehead, and cried on
the name of Him
Who had chosen me out of Jesse, and lifted me
from the grave.
And out of the house of Pharaoh, and led me
upon the wave,
For a blessing on this man also, his sons, and
his strong-built town.
"Hail," I said, "to the rock that shall never be
overthrown
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 37
By the sea, but shall stand its warder, a keeper
of many ways
To guard the treasures of ocean ; and unto this
town be praise.
Though its name be abomination, yet here is a
shelter found,
And space for our feet to tread on that weary
long for the ground,
And welcome of tongues that are near our own,
and an open heart
To hear the cause of our coming, and bless us
ere we depart.
Upon Elier God send blessing ! Yea, as a lofty
tree
Be his fourscore years an hundred to hold the
Gate of the Sea.
His sons are many beside him. I bless them
now, that they know
That when floods arise, the mountains are open
wherein to go.
And hide and issue for prey or vengeance in
flood or field.
They shall plough them both in the Springtime,
and both shall a harvest yield.
38 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
This is the blessing of Tephi." Then he and his
sons arose
And cried my name, but their hps spake strangely,
and might not close
On its sound, for "Tela, Teia, Tela," these
Gaddites cried,
And " Teia, Tela, Tela,'' the voice of their rock
replied.
Chapter VII
{ I ) The Canaanites set Melcarth upon their wall, but in strife
he is broken; (2) Hanmel calleth that place Carteia, and the
Prophet foretelleth the glory thereof; {3) The ship of Tyre
returning is lost with them that mere in it ; (4) Baruch
dieth at Carteia and a grandson is born unto Elier, and
called by his name.
(i) Now some that bore Melcarth tarried to carry
him round about,
And high by his wall they set him, and named
his name with a shout.
But the voice of the rock replied not, for their
crying was shrill and small.
Then Simon the son of Elier shook his spear
at the wall.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 39
A sign for the keeping of silence; and some
that stood by the shrine
And looked for an omen, knowing the voice of
their rock was mine,
Strove with the priests until Melcarth falling
was broken in twain,
The image which Canaan brought from the
uttermost eastern main,
And sent forth again to be with her sons, the
toilers in ships,
That the name of their God might endure and
be spoken of many lips.
A cubit he was in stature, and shapeless unto
the crown
Of his head, but arms beside him in the likeness
of man hung down.
In his right hand a golden trident was set for
the rule of the sea,
i
And Elier bade it be plucked away, and be given
to me.
(2) Then said he, " No more Caer Melcarth, Caer
Tela this place is named.
40 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
Our rock hath shouted thy name. Therein shall
its walls be famed,
Whilst the seed of David endures," but the
Prophet answered him, " Nay,
This too shall be broken in pieces, its stones be
carried away.
Not once nor twice shall this be, by the land,
by the seas, by the strait
Shall the spoilers come with engines to storm
the tower of the gate ;
But at eve returneth a damsel that holdeth the
twin-forked spear ;
A flaming wheel is her buckler, on all the isles is
her fear,
And my daughter's sons are with her. Hail
to the thunder and smoke
Of the ships which vanquish the thunder, of
her oxen brought to the yoke
To plough her by sea and by land a field for
the harvests of peace.
From islands of iron she goeth to gather the
world's increase.
Yea, islands of strength are the wheels of her
chariot, her steeds shall not tire,
THE BOOK OF TEPHJ 41
The storm is silent before them, their neighing
is hailstones and fire.
Her peace is with winds and waters and clouds
to lead her alone
Over every ocean wherein the might of her
trident is known.
To the hill-top of hope, to the Holy Hill. Weep,
weep no more
When the daughter of Zion sits in the gate.
From the shore to the shore
Her name is heard in the echoing rock, her
voice in the cave.
Her young lions draw to her side, though the
fowls of the mountains rave.
Where the eagles gather together, is a lion in
the narrow way.
He herdeth the kine before me, and setteth
himself at bay,
If at dawn the eagles hover, and the prey that
is in their beak
Causeth their wings to tarry, their eyries be
far to seek
When the lion springeth upon them. Not yet,
oh my daughter, not yet
42 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Is thy seat on the lion of the gate, but let not
thy soul forget."
(3) Three months beside the rock we abode, and
here it befell
That the seamen of Tyre returned, and we
knew how this hap was well.
For they murmured at Melcarth's fall, and
therefore an evil thought
Arose in their hearts to slay us ; taking that
which we brought
Out of Egypt, the jewels of Pharaoh, which
Sebnet his servant gave
When Pharaoh named me his daughter. These
we cared not to save.
But the things of the Lord were precious. These
things a slave, with a kiss.
Drew from the lips of a seaman, and Elier
heard of this
And brought our goods from the vessel, and
bade its sailors begone.
Though the Prophet told it to him how that
ship should sink as a stone.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 43
(4) Which thing hath surely happened, for at the
next eventide
When Baruch the scribe sat with us, his eyelids
were opened wide.
And he said, "The Lord stands by me. My
spirit is in His hand.
He slayeth Tyre in deep waters. He saveth
me by the land,
He holdeth me in dark places." And then he
tottered and fell.
And went to the house of our fathers with
David my sire to dwell,
Moses and Jacob with them; an old man
withered and hoar,
Whose eyes wept blood over Zion, the tale of
his years fourscore.
We buried him by Caer Teia, and there in the
lisping tongue
Of its folk men prayed above him, whilst songs
of the grave were sung
By me and my women duly. On that same
night at the morn
To the wife of Simon Ben Elier a fair man-child
was born.
44 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And they named him Baruch from him, This
child is amongst you still.
Simon Breach ye name him. In our speech
this is good and ill,
As of one that is striped and spotted, but fierce
though his angers be
His name shall be known unto after days for
his faith to me.
Chapter VIII
{\) A ship is sought of Necbal, a Canaanite of Dor, who captures
a ship of the Greeks; (2) A prophecy upon the body of
Aias; (3) Nabal prepares the ship which cometh without
hap unto Tarshish.
(i) Two months we took much counsel to find us a
further aid
For our journey beyond the sea-porch, but at last
a pact was made
With a Raclen who came out of Lud, but in
Canaan, Dor was his birth.
And he traded in many waters to all the ends of
the earth.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 45
Aine, a daughter of Dan was the mother of
Necbal. She knew
Where Dan lay coiled as a serpent; watching
all birds as they flew,
Naming those that passed to Eriu when winter
was over and spent.
She also had sorrow for Zion, her locks and her
garments were rent,
But she joyed in the surety of Dan, his salvation
sealed of the deep,
Where in grasses and long green rushes the
broods of the serpent creep
To sting the horse with its rider, the ox and the
lion and lamb.
Until all be gathered together in the promise of
Abraham.
She aided us much with Necbal, who bade his
miledhs await
A ship of the isles of Elissa that sought to steer
by the Gate,
For the Foeni brook no rivals to hamper their
raclen's mart.
The weaker come not anigh, the stronger they
bid depart,
46 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
Or fight for the way in the narrow porch, so the
miledhs of Dor
And of Rhodan took that ship of the Greeks, and
to Necbal's store
Her riches were brought, yet brave and fierce
were the men of her crew
Ere Achseas and Aias her captains the bands of
the Foeni slew.
I beheld the body of Aias, a mighty hero and
strong,
His spear was stayed to his wrist by its plaitings
of leather thong.
His greaves were of brass, and his helm was
brass, and his full-moon shield
Was pictured with tales of his sires that had
harried the Ilian field,
Chiefs of the Raclen, and princes of Dan in his
islands, and lords
Of the men of Argol and Chittim, and captains
that went by the fords
To the parts about Inis Colcha for fleeces and
golden dust.
And fair-haired bondslaves whose fathers will sell
their daughters to lust.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 47
Thou wast shapely in death brave Aias, and crisp
the curls of thine head.
Thy feet and thy hands were little, yet thine arm
was mighty to shed
The blood that had drenched thy sword-blade
when thou heldest thy ship alone,
Till caught in the nets of the miledhs at last thou
wast overthrown.
^2) Now the Prophet said " Out of Javan and Tiras
a ram shall rise.
To storm the gates of the sun in the golden house
of the skies.
Even now is born God's, servant to Madai. Him
shall He bless
To the height of a moon whose splendour shall
weaken yet not be less.
By him shall Bel be broken, with Misraim, Lud
and Tyre,
But the ram of Elissa, the two-horned ram, shall
tread him in mire.
He breaketh the walls before him, he butteth the
furthest East.
48 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
The Holy Hill shall know him. He setteth foot
on the beast,
Upon Egypt, o'er Elam and Assur he goeth
abroad at will.
The Bamah beholds his horsemen. The roof of
the world sits still.
He is feared in Hinda and Ganga, and on to
their utmost isle
As none that hath come before him. Yet, be-
hold, in a moment's while
He is ended and gone, the place of his ending
holds not his fame,
But the place of his rest shall be famous, and
ever dwell in his name.
The wise shall write him in story, the cunning
picture his deed.
His pride is a garnered treasure whereon shall
the ages feed.
Magog and Gog adore him. Shushan claimeth
his right,
But the ram of Helle is set in the sky as her
beacon light."
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 49
(3) Now Necbal plundered the corpses, and lent us
the strong-built boat,
Building great stones within her that upright and
strong she should float.
For rowers we had not as yet, and trusted but to
the sail
To lead, and the stones within to steady us unto
the gale.
If the winds should beat upon us, and wild sea-
horses outcurl
Their manes on the plain, but Gaddites and
Fomorcs we had to furl
Our sail in such hap from Elier, who, blessing us,
bade farewell.
Sending Simon his son with his babe and wife
to guide us and tell
The shallows, and count the headlands as we
sought from the western bay
Of the Gate, north-west by the sun, where the
island of turrets lay.
Near the mines of bright iron and copper, and
the wind of the south-west still
Blew soft on our sail, so thither no hap of our
voyage was ill.
50 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Chapter IX
(l) Itk the Prince of Breogan giveth rowers to the ship ; (2) He
maketh a song for their guidance ; (3) Ilh speaketh of his
son Lugaid ; (4) Tephi parting from 1th, the galley is
brought by a storm unto Pen Sauel.
(i) Now we came unto Ith to Tarshish, a miledh
of war was he,
A fierce sea king that ever had joyed in the
stormy sea,
The crash of the prows in battle, and coast
towns given to flame ;
But for Elier's sake he loved us when unto his
courts we came.
He gave us slaves of the Nemidh, lusty, freckled
and strong,
To fill the bank of the oarsmen, and bend their
backs unto song ;
And he made them a song to swing to as onward
we went our way.
And I wrote that song before him, and helped
them to learn its sway.
(2) To the star, to the star, to the star, do we row
At the eve, in the dawn, through the day.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 51
Seven moons, seven nights do we sit as we go
By the coast of the hills on our way.
To the East, to the right, sixty hours swing the oars
To the cape of the fire-bearing Pen,
From its tower is our travail to come by the
shores
Whereon Net of the Stones hath his den.
We are swift, we are strong, for the seas are alone.
And the hills of the wave builded high.
And the sea god hath made him a place for a
throne,
And the Thunder his camp in the sky.
By the cahirs of Net, by the stones which he built
Are the streams where our weary may drink.
If his men give us hurt unto Ith is their guilt.
And their names in his nostrils shall stink.
To the West, to the North, to the East by the
heads.
Out of Caerned count forty and four
Till our way goeth north by the coast where it
leads
Past the woods of the wolf and the boar.
Wait the sun lest the sea-witch draw cloud to her
hand,
52 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
With the moon on our stern must we row,
Whilst the eyes of the watchmen await on a land
As a blue mist, as blood or as snow.
He is blue where he watches the storehouse of tin.
If his beard we may pluck, he shall smile.
To the house of the bond-slaves of Ith we go in
To Elatha, and rest us awhile.
(3) Now Ith regarded my singing, and grace in his
eyes I found.
And he said, " I have mourned my son, who has
fled beyond the bound
Of Eber and Gad and Breogan, perchance he
hath passed away,
But^I would that Lugaid were with me, and thou
wert his bride this day.
My sons are not few, but Lugaid's mate should
be far to seek.
He was first in arms and in leechcraft, first in
the stithy's reek,
First in counsel or pastime, and first would he
be in pride.
So he brooked no king above him, and forth he
went from my side.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 53
Yet my heart is weary for him, and never hath
yearned again
As it yearneth to thee my daughter ; and glad I
were if the twain
Could meet if indeed he liveth. Thou art little,
but thou art wise,
Thy words unto men are few, but queenly their
message lies
In the hearts of slaves thereafter. Now, there-
fore my daughter plead
With my son where'er he greets thee, and his
ears shall give good heed."
(4) Now the Nemidh and Fomorcs sang, setting
their backs to the oar
Many days till they swung together, and the
chief of the rowers swore
That with such he feared no evil. So we went
from the fortress of Ith
Well stored with garments and trinkets, and
many a gift therewith,
Brooches, armlets and rings in caskets of ivory.
With mirrors of bronze and combs of shells of
beasts of the sea ;
54 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
For the hand of Ith was open, if wide, uncomely
and red.
And he loved the message of Elier, whilst Simon
his son had wed
His nigh of kin, who remained with her husband
behind when we went ;
And I gave unto Ith three gems to witness my
sotil's content.
Blue, green and tawny, of Egypt ; and the
Prophet said, " Let the blue
That is alway before thee lead thee to seek the
gift that is new.
Lo, the mine of emeralds is deep. This, there-
fore, shall be thy seal
Of a mining far in the deep in green forests of
Ar Brazeel.
In the tawny stone, behold it, thy path is set to
the South,
And the tawny sands poured seawards from
many a river's mouth.
Thy wealth is in this, in the yellow sands, in the
shipmen's trade.
In the tawny lands there is none to make thy
Breogans afraid."
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 55
So spake he to Ith at our parting, and sad are our
hearts to go
By the side of the deep-hued hills, whilst the
Fomorcs and Nemidh row
To their song, but the sea song cheers us ; and so
we pass without hap
To the Firepen flaming northwards that watcheth
on Eber's cap.
There, casting the Pen behind us, we flee for the
north in fear,
For the sea-snakes coil beneath us until we may
hardly steer.
And our galley is tossed up endwise, and some
of our oars are broke.
And some break hearts of our Nemidh, and white
are my womenfolk ;
But I sing them the psalms of David, and how
he escaped of Saul
When the Lord his God stood by him ; and
raised his feet on the wall
When the might of man availed not. Whilst the
Prophet readeth his scroll
And recketh not of the stormwind, nor heedeth
the water's roll,
S6 THE BOOK OF TEPHT
For the Word of the Lord is in him. In a noon
that is black like night
He beholdeth the heavens open. His face is a
shining light.
Then Buchi breaketh the pole of the helm, and
we may not steer,
And he clings to the mast beside us, and heareth
our holy cheer
As we go unholpen of man ; but the mighty hand
of the Lord
Is with us, and far before us the signs of his
grace outpoured.
The seamen's marks have failed in the storm, and
the watchmen dream
We are lost in plains of the ocean where never
the seabirds scream.
And no life save of sea beasts liveth ; but Buchi,
the wise man, told
Of one who had sought Ar Brazeel, and its city
whose towers are gold.
And came on that island westward, and stored
his ship and returned.
And after six months found Tarshish, a bearer of
thoughts that burned
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 57
In his bosom whilst he hid them ; for a pestilence
found his crew
And strewed their bones upon ocean, and all save
himself it slew ;
Whilst himself died little after, leaving with Buchi
his thought.
Therefore Buchi enquired upon us if now that
island be sought.
When our oars were mended and manned, but
the Servant of God forbade.
And counted us yet four days wherein our souls
should be sad.
Commending us prayer and fasting. Then, there
fore by night I prayed,
And by day I heartened my women in God, and
was not afraid.
Now, storm was yet on the fifth day but lessened,
and looking forth
In the cloud methought that there gathered a
darker cloud from the North,
And enquired of the son of Helek, who shaped as
an arch his hand.
And gazing, gave thanks unto Heaven that
brought us in sight of land.
S8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Then we saw it as isles and a wrathful cape, for
ragged and grey
The rocks ran down to the sea, and shewed us
no entrance way.
Whilst our helm was broke, but the Lord of the
sky commanded the wind
To save us out of their teeth in a haven that lay
behind,
Where a Pen arose to the East, and a marvel of
God in that Pen,
For the storehouse of Ith stood there, and the
place of Elatha's men.
More swift than by any road that our pilot had
steered,
To the land of tin were we come, yea, even unto
his beard.
Chapter X
( I ) Elatha and the servants of Ith give ivelcome at Pen Sauel ;
(2) Elatha sendeth men to Eriu for tidings; (3) They
are sent back with gifts unto Tephi from the men of
EriUy and a "welcome thither.
(i) Blessed were we in the Lord when the traders of
Ith came out.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 59
And learning our message towards them, raised
his name with a shout
And brought us into their houses beneath the
Pen of the wood,
Slaying an ox and seething its flesh in pots for our
food,
And baking fish with corn and herbs that grew in
their garth
Beneath the strong steep Pen whereon was
builded a rath,
Defender of lead and tin, and black stones out
of their mines,
Both that which burneth as wood, and that
which glitters and shines
Betwixt the breasts of their damsels. To the
mines were our Nemidh sent
To toil three years for their master, nor thus
were they ill content,
For we gave them a promise from Ith, that
after three years should come
A [ship out of Kirjath Hadtho, and bear them
unto their home
Where the eye of day is clear on the rocks
without cloud to blind,
6o THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And the dates are sweet in the mouth where the
bowman seeketh the hind.
(2) Then Elatha the kinsman of Ith gave counsel to
rest awhile
Till swift boats be sent to Eriu to question the
men of that isle
Where the princes of Dan abode, and chiefly o
Jochad, the son
Of Duach, him that their landsmen had chosen
as Heremon,*
Whose fathers came out of Japho wherein they
were held too straight
By the kings of Gath and of Eckron, and spreading
their sails to fate
Drew their swords unto kingship in Chittim,
Rhodan, and Lud,
And ruled Ar Kadesh, and mingled the stream
of the chosen blood
In many a mountain torrent, on many a peopled
coast
Ere they lighted on green Eriu a little, a noble
host,
* Ir. Eocaidh. Gr. Achaios.
THE BOOK OF TEPBJ 6r
Which fought the cause of the landsmen. This
fame, and their names herein
The Prophet foreknew of the Dannites, the
furthest of Jacob's kin.
With these he would leave on the sun's path the
twig of the lofty tree,
The small green bough of the olive, in the midst
of the deep to be
Even yet in Abraham's bosom, the home of his
sons afar
Who replenish their strength in the isles, ere
they gather to seek the star
Of Isaac and Jacob their fathers, when Israel
filleth the earth
With joy in the sound of his coming, and music
and songs of mirth.
(3) Five weeks we abode at Pensauel till the men of
the land returned
With tidings whereat the Prophet rejoiced, and
my spirit burned.
At [Pen Edair they heard of peace, how Eriu
yearned for the choice
62 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Of a guard against evil rulers, and the aire*
cried with one voice
Upon Jochad, the son of Duach, a prince of the
tribe of Dan,
A champion wise and mighty, and sprung of that
chosen clan
Which had captained miledhs in Javan, and
their hosts throughout Eberled.
This prince had been sought for of many, yet
stayed in his prime unwed,
For the ollamhs that watched the stars to the
twilight whereon he was born
Beheld ere the sun's arising a moon with a
slender horn
Ascend from the sea before him, to lead his
light out of sleep ;
And they set on the babe a vow that the
strength of the man should keep.
To hold himself from the stars, till a moon in
the eastern sky
Should shine in the dark and lead him, yea,
even when noon was high.
* Aire, yeomen, literally ploughmen.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 63
For that moon abided near him till over him
clouds were grey,
And at eventide was seen ere the sun was
hidden away.
Now there went by the men of Elatha as a token
to Pen Edair
The slender horns of silver, the clasp I was wont
to wear
On my veil in the house of my fathers. The
daughters of kings were known
By such from old days before me, and my sire
upon David's throne
Had fastened the clasp upon me, when they
brought me first to his sight.
Though " Tephi " * he cried in anger, and in me
had little delight.
This token the Prophet bade me loose from the
folds of my veil
And send as the horns wherewith he should
harry the priests of Baal ;
For he sent a fiery message forth by Elatha's men
Who told it the chiefs of Eriu, and they that
dwelt by the Pen
* A small one. Mignon.
64 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Of Edair scoffed at its hearing, taking the tale
for a jest
To be told in the near assembly where the war
chiefs gathered at rest,
But when Jochad the Prince had heard it, he
straightway rose from his seat
And cried, " It is twilight still, but the day shall
be soon complete.
Ye have doubted the dawn, ye chiefs of Canaan,
Eber and Finn,
But the moon on the furthest deeps hath reached
the island of tin
To shine full soon o'er Pen Edair. Her shadow
cometh before.
At her rising the fomorcs * shall flee and the men
of Eriu adore.
Bring in these men out of Albion, and bid the
ollamhs unroll
The message they bring with the token from him
that hath writ us a scroll.
Then were called the men of Elatha, and unto
the warrior's hill
* Sea rovers.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 65
They came with the scroll of the Prophet, and
none spoke kindly or ill
Whilst Sri the son of Ezru, an ollamh skilled in
the speech
Of Zion, Nemidh and Breogan, held forth his
hand unto each
And took from the one my token, and bowed to
the Holy Name
On the Prophet's scroll, and sought it of his fellow
that with him came,
And read its words in men's ears. Great was
the import thereof,
For the Lord had spoken therein. Now the last
of His word was love,
But wrath was in the beginning, which the chiefs
waxed wrathful to hear.
And murmurs arose in their midst both of anger
and scorn and fear.
" Ho, ye that dwell in the rushes, — Ho, ye that
walk by the sea.
Afar, in the clear-walled island, — Ye have whored
and are sundered from Me.
Ye are set upon , idols greatly, — Your feet are
clayed in the mire,
E
66 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Ye are fat with the flesh forbidden, — Your fore-
heads swell with desire.
As swine ye rush on each other, — Ye gore as an
unclean beast.
Your prayers are evil before Me, — My soul ab-
horreth your feast.
Ye are long cast out from Zion. — Your feet were
the first to flee.
Ye have spawned in Javan and Nimidh, — Your
seed is lost in the sea.
Jacob is wasted in Eber, — Yea, as a wine that is
spilt.
The poison of asps is in you, — Have I not known
your guilt?
The glory of Zion was yours, — Ye first have
hastened her fall.
Weep for your sins, ye faithless, — Weep not My
Temple's wall.
For now I dwell not in houses, — Only with men
I dwell.
Hearken now to My message, — Hear it and heed
it well.
I call and ye shall not hearken. — I cry, and ye
will not heed.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 67
The blessing of Abraham liveth. — I sow you with
David's seed.
A little seed unto ages. — Ye shall tread it under
your feet.
It shall sleep amidst your tumults. — It shall
slumber in cold and heat.
My burden on Eriu is broken against you, the
thing I crave
Is a name forgot, and a secret place, and a far-
off grave.
My name I have left in Egypt. Unto an hiding
place
I bring the treasures of Yahveh that He shutteth
from every face
Till this season. Not unto Dan are these, but 1
bring therewith
The daughter of David, daughter of Pharaoh,
daughter of Ith,
A fount that Yahveh hath cleansed, anointed of
Him from birth.
Heiress of tribes and peoples scattered o'er all
the earth.
The furthest isles are her portion, the sea is hers
as her dower.
68 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Her sons shall rule in Eriu, her sons' sons reign
unto power ;
Till her child that shall be, gather the flock of
David anew.
His head is crowned with the sun. His feet are
wet with the dew
As he leadeth them in the morning. This also
ye may not learn :
Ye are blind, but a ring in the snout, is plain that
ye all discern.
Behold her silvern crescent which marketh the
daughter of kings.
A king that wrought evil gave it. Moreover,
bracelets and rings
Be hers of Tarshish from Ith of the Breogan out
of his hold
Wherein ye barter your herds and harvest for
treasures of gold.
He is greater than ye, yet the seed of Judah hath
known a sire
Higher than Ith, for Misraim bows to its Lord's
desire ;
And he gave to his daughter Tephi royal garments
that shine
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 69
As sunset, and are as the rainbow with jewels out
of the mine.
Who is he that sitteth amongst you shall raise his
eyes to their'-hem.
The Queen of the Gates and Nile cometh out of
Jerusalem
As a sweet fruit ripened in Winter. Hither with
her the Stone, —
The Stone of the Kingdom cometh. It shall not
be left alone
Henceforth of her sons for ever. I bid ye prepare
her a home
Wherein all shall be meet and ready that the feet
of the Queen shall come,
Yet not ask of me. I am left in Egypt a pillar
to be
Unto days and lands and peoples, when the Lord
bears witness in me.
I stand a sower, a ploughman. My God hath set
me to plant.
I shall not fail in His time. His hand hath
holpen my want.
A builder, I set one stone ; as a husbandman, a
seed;
70 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
But the Stome is the dwelling of Him from whose
hand shall the nations feed,
And thereon shall rest His Chosen, whose King-
dom is East and West,
Whereupon the sun shall wander and find no
place for his rest
Of the night, but day endureth. Heed ye this
work, and mark.
At the end of days it is clear. It is dim in the
veils of the Ark.
This also may not be broken, though men shall
hide it away,
It standeth in earth for ever, and ruleth the night
and day.''
These things read Sri in their hearing, and silence
dwelt for a space.
The hearts of the warriors held them, and each
man sat in his place
A dreamer of far-off places, and pondered on
hidden things,
And thrones and kindrpds and seasons and sons
that should reign as kings ;
But the children of Baal were angered, and
Tuirbhi was first to speak,
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 71
The chief of the Tyrian craftsmen. " What came
ye hither to seek,
Ye men of Elatha, the scourge of the fomorcs, the
shipman of Dan,
And foster-father to Jochad ? I know the wiles
that ye plan !
Elatha's mines are empty. His smelters handle the
spear.
His sails are gathered together that Eriu may
dwell in fear.
Ye are come as spies before him. Answer ye to
his boast,
That the men of Eriu be gathered to greet him
on every coast.
Though Ith out of Eber help him, and Elier out
of the Gate.
If Egypt indeed be with him, it is long that his
host must wait.
But come ye many or few our firbolgs have little
fear
Whilst Tuirbhi watcheth his anvils to furnish each
with a spear.
By Caiseal the stones are strong that are piled
upon Breogan's wall.
72 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And the crag of Edair is steep whereupon it is ill
to fall.
Our gold is stored in the mosses, our oxen hidden
away,
Are ill to hunt in the mountains, and few shall be
for a prey.
Though he send the chief of his Milidh, surely
we will not stir ;
Though he send his champion to Jochad, ill shall
it be with Ir.
For Ir, his captain of strength, the wild boar
rooteth a grave.
If he come to the land of Eriu, his ships shall
burn on the wave
Though Jochad his brother help him." Thus
Tuirbhi spake and was still.
And Elatha's men stood silent, nor answered they
good or ill.
But the bard of Jochad endured not. Ethan,
Muiroideach's son,
A youth, but a mighty singer that ever the oak-
wreath won.
In wrath he arose, and sang against Tuirbhi a
song of might
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 73
Till his brow set red in his bosom and his heart
was closed from the light.
" Hear ye, hear ye, ye princes. — Hear ye, the son
of the smith.
Stand in the blast of the bellows, — Be ye all
shaken therewith.
Give your nose to the pincers, — So doth he
lengthen it out.
Crafty the rings of Tuirbhi, — Gaily they hang in
the snout.
Bowed in the back is Tuirbhi. — Are ye not all
the weight ?
Doth not he squeal beneath it ? — Doth not a
beldame prate ?
She is blind beneath her forelocks. — Is she not
sore afraid ?
Shall Ir at his coming take her ? — Shall he choose
tbe smith as a maid ?
Let laughter be upon Tuirbhi, — Go clothe his
brawn with a smock.
Clip his bristles to smoothness, — lest the men of
Elatha mock.
Those that have brought good tidings, — See in
the hand of Sri.
74 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
A slender silvern crescent. — The moon of the
East is nigh.
Her horns are peace and riches. — Set as an elfin
queen
She saileth her boat in heaven. — Her rounded
fulness hath been
Before and it shall be after. — She hideth yet for a
space
From Eriu in her chamber, — He findeth her
hidden place
He rejoiceth in her beauty. — Robe Eriu like a
king.
Set purple and gold upon him. — May a sun arise
to fling
His mantle of gold about her, — his fires in her
slender form,
That her months be duly rounded, — That new
stars in the sky be born.
She hath gems to teach the springtime, — veils to
shelter the heat.
Gold for the Autumn harvest, — Her light in
Winter is sweet,
Fair on the snow she glistens. — We dream of that
which may be.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 75
Our hearts are where she riseth, — In isles of the
Eastern sea,
In mighty cities and temples, — in stories of
ancient days,
In visions of kings and heroes, — with priests
amidst songs of praise.
Go forth to meet her, my soul. — My belovbd is
very fair ;
She is white, she hath eyes as stars, — The night
is set in her hair ;
She hath rainbows in all her garments, — She hath
dewdrops about her throat.
Her hands are slender lilies,— Her voice hath the
cushat's note.
Her lips are as winter berries, — Her foot hath a
mouse's fall.
Where she cometh joy awaketh, — -He riseth to
festival.
Three mighty kings are her sires — No king's son
sits at her side.
She cometh a queen to Eriu, — A queen and a
chosen bride,
Eriu shareth her birthright, — The flower of its
greenest sod
76 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Shall blossom here in our midst, — and grow to
the Land of God."
Then the chiefs of green Eriu rose up from their
seats to throng
To the place of Ethan, and raised him aloft and
bore him along
On a shield and shouted and crowned him, for
seldom such tongue was heard
As Ethan's, strong as a stormwind, clear as a
morning bird
Was his voice, and his touch on the harpstrings
light, like a fountain's play,
A ripple of running music that chimed with the
voice alway.
Oft have I heard, and loved it. Ah me, that a
bard be slain
By the coward deed of a churl, for a witchwife
light and vain.
Each chief gave then a guerdon which matched
with the giver's state.
First Balor grandson of Net flung down twelve
pounds by weight
Red gold in tores and armlets. Heavy his herds-
men's toil.
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 77
Then Crimthann Lord of Pen Edair gave him an
ocean spoil
Of goblets and horns of silver, and Nuadh of
Usna's keep
Gave gold and horns of a seabeast brought from
the northern deep,
And the chiefs of the merchants gave him a
breastplate of well-wrought gold.
With an ivory chessplay carved by cunning men
to the mould
Of kings with their chiefs and firbolgs. Such
bard gift ne'er hath been gained
As Ethan's, a hundred warriors plucked their
cloaks till it rained
A shower of their flashing brooches ; but Jochad
his lord came late.
Yet foremost, for Jochad was proud. His gold
was little of weight.
He had not oppressed his yeomen, yet he gave
unto Ethan's hand
A gift which was more than Balor's, and worth
the half of his land,
A brooch of red gold which wizards of Tursis had
sprinkled o'er
78 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
With a golden sand by magic, and out of their
hidden lore
Had heaped it in flowers and bosses, and mar-
vellous stems of fern
Where the eye was 'wildered in choice, and scarce
had strength to discern ;
Yet the whole was a sun in glory. Now, once
that glory was seen
With Eileen fairest of women, she that was set as
a queen
O'er Elissa in fair Ar Galish, and fled to a further
shore
To carry the curse of Javan, and leave her tale
evermore
In the mouths of bards and singers. Now
Jochad's sires out of Troy
Won this when the city had fallen, a treasure
without alloy
In the eyes of all fair women, a spell compelling
the eyes,
A gift beyond price more precious than aught
that the merchant buys.
Then Ethan cried, " With a bardgift, lo, I am
made a prince.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 79
Such hansels may not be handled, mine eyes at
their brightness wince.
Cover them all lest they blind me. Let them be
carried away.
Let these be earnest of Eriu that the moon no
more shall delay,
But hasten her speedy rising." Then the
chieftains shouted loud
" Let us see the moon of the morning. The
edge of whose silver cloud
Hath touched upon Albinn. Seek it. Ye men
of Elatha speed
With the greetings of green Eriu to welcome the
chosen seed
Of the Daogdoe, kings of Morias, that holy city of
fate,
Morias Fail of our fathers. She mourneth its
fallen state.
Both in Egypt she mourned, and in Breogan, but
tell her that warm shall be
The hearth that is lit in Eriu, the greenest isle of
the sea."
8o THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Chapter XI
(l) The men return to Elatha, and give the gifts of Erin unto
Tephi, who telleth of her chief jewels ; (2) Bres telleth
his father of the prophecy tipon Jo chad ; (3) Elatha
Tnourneth for their departure and communeth upon
Ephraim with the Prophet ; (4) He prepareth many
vessels for them, and sendeth Bres with them to Eriu ;
(5) of their journey thithenvards,
(i) So these men came joyful to Albinn, and poured
their tale in our ears,
How their hearts were low at Pen Edair, and
heavy at Crimthann's jeers,
And sunken at Tuirbhi's boasting ; but how from
the side of a chief
Clearbrowed as the dawn sprung a youth who
had given their souls relief.
Heaping out wealth upon them. Then they
brought the bardgift they bore
From the chiefs and Ethan, and showed it.
Now behold, the first of their store
Was the wondergift of Jochad. Mine eyes grew
blinded thereon
And Elatha took, and laid it on my breast in
place of the stone
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 8i
Of Pharaoh, a sky of turquoise that swam betwixt
golden wings,
A precious gift and an holy, and meet for
daughters of kings,
Chosen of God and his Servant, for the Lord had
shapen its thought
In its maker. Where graven idols of beasts have
made Him of naught.
His thought shall behold their ashes, and the
wings of His spirit fly
Before men's souls in their blindness to name
Him eternally.
So I changed the place of my jewels, my moon I
set on my brow.
And the turquoise lay at my throat where it
wideneth out below ;
But the sun of Eileen I planted deeply upon my
breast.
There it shall gleam in my sidhe,* and lighten
the gloom of my rest.
(2) Then Elatha spake with the Man of God, and
called upon Bres,
* Tumulus with chamber at centre, pronounced shee.
F
82 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
His firstborn, the stay of his age, that now was
his strength to press
The presses of Eriu and Albinn, and thrice had
been unto Ith,
To Tarshish, and once to Caer Teia, and bade
him unfold the myth
Of the bards upon Jochad's cradle, for the twain
were nurtured as one.
When the father of Jochad fell, his babe and his
only son
Shared couch and cover and breast with Bres in
the fort of the horn
Of Albinn. So Bres well-skilled in that legend
of mystic morn
Gave forth its tale in our hearing, and I treasured
it in my heart,
Ere Elatha gathered his vessels and gave us speed
to depart.
(3) Now Elatha communed much with the Prophet,
and wept and grieved
Upon Zion greatly, but read the promise and
greatly believed
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 83
The blessing of Jacob on Joseph and Judah,
beholding the day
When Ephraim's kiss should bind them, and sin
be taken away :
And he learned by his packmen where Ephraim
tarried now by the path
Out of Hara, Haber and Halah, wherein the Lord
in his wrath
Had set him amidst the Madai, and how by Kir
he had fled
Through the children of Heth to the mountains,
and crossed by the watershed
To the summer land Defroban, and built him a
temple there.
For the Lord in the pastures of Kef, and now
the name which they bare
Was Asirgard, City of God, that the God of
Moses therein
Might keep him from Heth and Magog, and
purge him away from his sin.
Now Elatha blessed the Lord beholding how
David should wait
The kiss of Joseph whose ploughing tarrieth long
in the gate.
84 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
The Engel is slow and heavy and loves by the
river mead
To lie in the sun by day, and rise at morning to
feed.
But hateth the yoke and the plough for the field
wherein she would lie
Where the lion is in the gate. Yet the Engel
shall draw anigh
For the ploughing, and harvest shall whiten slowly
up from the blade
When the boughs of the planted cedar are over
his head for shade.
(4) Of these things Elatha communed much with the
Prophet and bade
That the lioness cub of Judah be with such pomp
arrayed
As the power in his hand might furnish to pass
to that seagirt isle
Wherein is the sapling planted to suck the dews
for awhile.
Ere it grow of strength to return to the land of
the strong free breeze.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 85
And increase on its northern mountains, and
spread to its narrow seas.
By its shores of grey-blue granite, its shores of
blood and of snow.
By all walls of its fertile garden fenced of the sea
shall it grow.
Therefore he painted his vessels, and set them
with snowy sails.
And bound green wreaths to their foreheads, and
out of his merchant bales
Brought scarlet and blue and white to flutter
upon the mast
And stripe their sterns with a rainbow to oaken
planking made fast.
Then men of the silvery isle of Vect he chose
for our band.
An island of many havens that Heth under that
land;
And mixed folk out of the Domnan that dwell
where the tors are red.
Mighty men of the sea, fire-hearted, wary of
head;
And fisherfolk from the horn, the beard of the
promised isle.
86 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
A mixed folk also whose maidens hark to the
raclen's wile,
Till the blood of Zidon and Israel toileth amidst
the veins
Of the rocks wherefrom the princes of the Tyrians
suck their gains ;
And fomorcs * of Khumru north till then reachest
the furthest Pen
Of Lochlann, returning again by coasts of moun-
tain and fen
To the narrow seas of Albinn by the shore of the
silver wall,
And pass by the island of Vect again to Elatha's
hall.
A hundred ships had Elatha, and he gathered
fifty and three
With chosen men as their pilots, to make a con-
voy for me,
And the wealth of Egypt and Tarshish and that
which Eriu gave.
That my sailing be spoken of many, my path be
sure on the wave,
* Fomorians, sea-rovers.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 87
And Eriu have fear and joy at my coming. Two
thousand and five
Were the living souls of our navy. " A gallant
swarm for the hive
Of a queen well stored with honey." Thus Bres
of the miledh spake ;
Arid his father answered again, right glad for his
firstborn's sake
(The son that Delbaeth's daughter bare him in
Maoth Seein
When she loved his youth ere she fled with the
sea-king to be his queen)
" To thee be the hiving of her," and, Bres being
merry, cried back,
" How may I store the honey with all the wasps
in its track ?
Thou knowest our wasps of Eriu." Whereat
Elatha replied,
" The Lord shall harbour the queen-bee. Be
thou but found on His side
And His sweetness shall surely bless thee." Such
answer more grave than gay
Had Bres from his father Elatha before we went
on our way.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
With the summer breeze behind us. We jour-
neyed first to the North
Beside the lands of the Khumru which deep in
the sea jut forth,
Till we came to their holy island, and were blessed
of their ancient bards
Who sang to their harps the night of our resting,
but afterwards
With a clear east wind ere dawn we went by a
path that lay
To the West, and brought us swiftly in sight of
the fairest bay
Whereupon I had looked. By Edair our anchors
and stones we cast,
And the firbolgs of Crimthann swam with ropes
to steady us fast ;
And Crimthann came with his captains and stood
to watch on the strand
And shouted, and many bards sang welcomes of
Eriu's land.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 89
Chapter XII
(l) Tephi setteth foot upon Eriu, the defendedisland ; (2) The
song of the bards at her landing.
(i) Then looked I for Ethan and knew him, for his
voice was sweetest of all ;
But his lord I might not know 'midst the chiefs
out of Crimthann's hall,
Twelve warriors strong, but I liked not them-
selves in their cloaks of red :
So I deemed the master of Ethan a dullard, and
bowed my head.
And wrapped his sun in my mantle, ere smiling
I raised one hand
To my women, whilst out of the ship I was
carried in haste to land
By Ethan the bard, green-mantled ; and another
that, clad as he.
Throwing his harp on the pebbles, ran singing
still through the sea.
And raised up his arms imploring, till my women
lifted me out
To the seat they made with their mantles. Nor
did I tremble or doubt
90 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
For their tread was steady and sure ; and I
smiled to him to the right,
For his brow was clear and steadfast, his eyes
were joyous and bright ;
And so by the bards of Eriu I was borne through
the shallow sea.
And this was beginning of joy and pain in the
heart of three.
I had not smiled upon Ethan though rich with
his gift I came.
And his was the highest voice of the bards that
had cried my name.
Tall and agile he was, but little he stood
beside
The bard with the crisp curled locks whose gaze
was open and wide
Out of frank blue eyes that feared not, and
chanted lofty and loud
In their chorus Tefifia Teia, and struck his harp
with a proud
Long sweep of the strong white fingers. His
song ran into my blood,
And its voice is long remembered, as a lonely
tower in a flood.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 91
(2) My heart hath waited for thee, Teia,
My heart hath waited for thee long.
Though Egypt's sun adore thee, Teia,
My heart is as a hearth more strong.
It shall hold thee, help thee, keep thee,
Teia,
It shall love thee from this first bright day,
In its radiance fold thee, steep thee, Teia,
When it flashes in the snowstorms far away.
Green Eriu smiles to meet thee
Teffia, Teia.
Her bards are come to greet thee,
Teffia, Teia.
With the homage of her love
That thy crescent smiles above
In the mirrors of the bay.
My soul is yearning to thee, Teia.
My hands are yearning towards thee now.
Though Tarshish and Pensavel woo thee,
Teia.
Eriu shall not cloud thy brow.
It shall fold thee, feed thee, fill thee, Teia.
92 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
It shall stay thee where the white waves leap,
In thy weeping it shall still thee, Tela,
In thy midnight it shall watch thy couch of
sleep.
Its reverence shall be on thee
Teffia, Tela,
As a hallowed light upon thee
Teffia, Teia.
As the glory of the morn
Shines upon thy crescent horn
O'er the emeralds of the deep.
They ceased ere they reached the land, and lo,
he hem of my vest
Had fallen out of my hand, and the sun that lay
on my breast
Flashed in their eyes, and they started apart ; but
the stronger bore
My form in his arms one moment, and set me as
light on the shore
As I might lay down some blossom, sweet-scented,
which tenderwise
My lips had touched ere I set it more far to
gladden mine eyes.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 93
Chapter XIII
(l) Of Tephi's rest at Peti Edair ; (2) She telUth of her person
and of her state in going thence unto the Place of
Assembly of the men of Eriu ; (3) Tephi rebuketh the
priests; (4) Their idol is broken by Ethan.
Now the chiefs of that place and Ath Cliath
cried my name from their lips,
And a seaman's shouting rolled like thunder
around the ships
In the speech of the mingled peoples, but
" Teia" was most their shout
As it was beneath the rock of the Gate. Then
girded about
By a throng of bright-eyed women, green-tuniced
and wreathed with green
I was raised aloft on a seat, and carried like
Egypt's queen
By chieftains in double rank past Edair's piteous
tomb,
(Edair, Eglaeth's daughter, that died in her
husband's doom.)
Up the steeps of the Pen to the Cahir of Crim-
thann, chief of the fights.
94 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Thereafter for and against me in things that the
Lord requites.
He and his chiefs went before us clearing with
spears our road,
Their helmets starry With sunset, red suns in the
locks which flowed
Far down on their crimson garments. Mine
eyes were dazzled with these,
And I turned and looked behind me, and found
contentment and ease
Amidst them that followed after, and foremost
with golden hair
Broad brow and clear bright vision, I saw the
harper that bear
Me out of my ship, and by him strode Ethan
agile and dark.
With a flame of fire on his cheek, and fire in the
eager spark
Of his flashing eyes upon me. Of the bards
there came fourscore
In green ; then a chosen band of Elatha's men
from the shore
Came next in their varied raiment, the purples of
them that sold
THE BOOK OF TEPHT 95
The Tyrian wares, and scarlet and azure, whilst
ruddy gold
Gleamed in their belts and brooches, flashed from
their helms of brass
Like a marsh-flower mead. Behind them followed
a mingled mass
Of folk that wore scanty garments waving aloft in
their hands
Fair wreaths and branches of oak trees, or flut-
tered on sticks gay strands
Of woollens in tattered ribbons, as bright as a
barley field
When it whiteneth unto harvest and the husband-
man guesseth its yield.
(2) Such was my state at my coming. My daughters,
if ye set store
To hear of a woman's presence, and the garments
your mother wore
At her welcome ; — little of stature, and slender of
limb was I,
Being white, not red of my colour, like a stalk of
nodding rye.
96 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Upon midnight braids of my hair did my argent
crescent shine.
My throat's thin ivory column poised 'twixt the
wings divine
About Pharaoh's wide blue heaven ; whilst the
sun of Eileen beneath
Took roses of rosy sunset. On the hems of my
veil a wreath
Was broidered with gold, and wings of shining
insects whose name
I knew not, sea-blue below, but lit with an
emerald flame ;
Which veil was long and fragile, as spun out of
gossamer
By fairy looms of the dawn ; and this was the
gift of Ir
Who had brought it out of Caer Hayo, and said,
in a furthest land
Of the East, witch-women wrought it in caves
with a moistened hand,
And withered their eyes in working its whiteness,
whiter than wool
Or fairest linens of Egypt. Where this veil had
been folded full
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 97
To my form, I fastened and bound it with a
serpent about my waist
Of fine gold, very precious. Now in that girdle
was placed
A sprig of a herb of Eriu, three-headed on every
stem.
Cendrige, my people call it, and much it is loved
of them.
As the charm of their fair green island. This
those bore forth in their hand
That brought me on cloaks through the ripples,
*
and set my feet on the land.
Now this had been placed by the foremost, the
bard on my right hand side,
But I knew not the charm was with me till I
found it at eventide
When I couched in the booth by the fortress.
Next morrow at early dawn
When my women arrayed me for journey, I saw
it, and scorning to scorn
A bard that had given such welcome, set it again
to the clasp
Of my serpent ere Bres came thither, and lifting
me light in his grasp
G
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Placed me high on a jennet, snowy, wild-eyed and
still.
But therewith tall and stately, and so we paced
down the hill
And out through the fair green grasses, with Bres
still near at my side,
And his cohort of captains by him wherewith he
was wont to ride,
And the bards behind us on ponies that sat with
their harps to play
And move us with mirth and music what while
we went on our way.
Now Ethan was ever foremost, and sweetest of
all was his song ;
But I looked in vain for his fellow, with purpose
that held no wrong
Of repaying his charm with a golden ring, but I
found him not.
Marvelling wherefore he tarried ; yet my cendrige
was not forgot
When we came by an easy journey next morn unto
Crofinn's croft.
Where at the land was assembled, for there the
grasses were soft,
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 99
And many horses might pasture, with cattle and
flocks for meat.
Here the chiefs of Eriu had portioned themselves
their seat
On the banks round the croft of Crofinn, and there
each set him a booth,
And they met on its central greensward where the
level was clean and smooth
For choice and converse amongst them upon
Eriu's hap and its weal.
In a three weeks' truce wherein the tongue was
lord of the steel
Throughout all coasts of the island. Now this
truce was for two days yet.
When one short hour after dawn, through meadows
that still lay wet
With the dews I came to the croft as a queen
with my following,
For unto that day the island had never bowed to
one king.
Though high chiefs ruled in Usna and Caseal and
fair Emain,
And in many duns and cathirs fortressed in forest
or plain
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Or on hilltops. Each tall landmark crowned with
their strongholds stood,
And the lords did that within them that seemed
in their own eyes good.
Now the cry of the land was bitter, for most of
the chiefs wrought ill
On their landsmen as on their foemen, and each
by his strong-walled hill
Held cattle plundered of either, until the forces
which cling
In clanship were severed amongst them, and the
aires cried for a king
To hush their feuds and to pluck the husbandmen
from the mire.
And the bards of the land were with them to
yield them their heart's desire ;
But the priests of the gods against them. Yet
some of the priests that knew
The God of the Hebrews helped them ; but these
were a chosen few.
And the priests of the heathen many, well skilled
in the ancient lore
Of Criden and Baal and Samen, and many an
idol more
THE BOOK OF TEPHI loi
Whom their fathers knew in Canaan, and the
June morn filled with heat
When I heard their trumpets blow as the priests
came forward to greet
Her that was hid in the Temple; yea, in its
inmost shrine
Was held with the graven tablets, and the scrolls
of the Law Divine.
These that came in white garments. These with
a frenzied tread
That whirled upon desiul* circles ! Had not
my spirit bled
Before such in the house of David ? How might I
greet them here ?
I was weak, the might of the Lord prevailed over
my fear.
And I rode in His wrath against them.
(3) " Ho, ye that have eyes to see,
Ho, ye that have ears to hear with, keep silence
at sight of me.
And my voice from the Lord," I cried, " for Baal
is broken of Bel,
* Sunwise.
I THE BOOK OF TEPHI
The twain shall be broken together. They sink
to the nethermost hell.
A flame hath descended on Zion. God sweepeth
with wings of fire
The House of His habitation. He sendeth hail
upon Tyre.
Zidon and Gath are broken, Ephraim led away,
Samaria lieth fallen, and is as an heap this day
Because men whorbd with idols. Shall idols
come forth to greet
Her that the Lord hath kept, that dwelt by His
Mercy Seat.
Your dances and fires He hateth. Behold, the
face of the Lord
Is a sun that shineth in darkness, His tongue is
a flaming sword.
Let Criden and Baal be broken, devourers, and
blind of sight
And empty of help for all that sink in the womb
of night.
Yet the great or little prevails not when God
ariseth in wrath.
With a pebble-stone from the brook he layeth the
might of Gath."
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 103
(2) E'en at my word a pebble sang by mine ear and
smote
Through the open mouth of Criden, and broke
his head from his throat,
And his breast was shattered also. Swift on my
own swift speech
Was Ethan's deed upon Criden, for all that the
prophets teach
Was known of Ethan, our Hebrew speech, and
our father's deed.
He smote as my father David. The Lord had
answered my need.
Now the image he smote was hollow, and held in
a secret hold
The gifts of the blind and foolish, their rings and
the stars of gold
Which the priests said went to his dwelling, but
now his falling revealed
From the hiding place of his belly, and scattered
o'er all the field,
And all were amazed and angered; and men
called out upon Sri
The son of Ezra their wisest, to interpret my
word, and why
I04 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Their idol was shattered before it, for silent
amongst the band
Stood Ethan, and none beheld when the stone
flew forth from his hand.
Their eyes being set upon me ; and wherefore
that image fell
When my wrath was laid upon it not they that
bear it might tell.
Then Sri the son of Ezru, a lover of better
things,
Set forth my speech in their tongue, and the
strifes of our former kings.
How Saul the mighty had fallen when idols led
him astray.
And how from the house of David God's curse
was taken away
For a space, but was sealed thereafter. Now the
priests were angry that heard.
But the common people listened, and many
hearked to his word.
And some of the chiefs and the most of the
bards. Amongst them a cry
" Daouda, Daouda hath smote him," arose at the
words of Sri,
THE BOOK OF TEPHI lOS
Telling how David had smitten whilst yet a
youth with the flock
The giant, mighty in war, with a stone of the
brook, a rock
The cornerstone of his house : and the shouting
" Daouda " grew
When he told how the Lord of Hosts descended
in flame anew
On the Seat that he brought from Kirjath to set
in Jerusalem,
The Ark, the Holy of Holies, which went with
the tents of Shem
When Israel came out of Egypt. Sore were the
priests of Baal,
But the people cried out against them, and
praised me that heard this tale,
So their wrath kept silence before me, and
turning they went again
Till we passed the banks of Crofinn, and entered
the little plain
Wherein the chieftains assembled. An hundred
princes and eight
Of Eriu waited my coming ; each with his proper
state.
io6 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
His druid and bard and champion ; and all stood
there on their feet
Save I, who with Bres at my bridle, rode forth on
the sward to greet
The lords of the high assembly, who hailed me,
child of their isle,
And queen of the house of their fathers, and so
without thought of guile
I unveiled my face before them, and spake to
them gentlewise
My thanks for their greeting and favour, but that
which shone in the eyes
Of many chilled me before them ; so, icy in
pride, I rode
Before Sri, and Bres and Ethan, to enter the fair
abode
Which these had built for my coming, whitewood,
well carven in scrolls
Of serpents, whose hinder part in an endless
ribbon unrolls.
Its door was a woollen curtain of green with a
scarlet hem,
And Sri on its Hntel fastened the name of
Jerusalem
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 107
Writ in Hebrew in brazen letters, and set on its
posts a sign
That none but the maids might enter the booth
which was named as mine.
Therein I rested at noonday, and ate in the
failing light,
But had little sleep thereafter, and watched the
most of the night :
For the looks of the priests misliked me, and the
hungry eyes of the men
Of Eriu searched upon me, as eyes of wolves in
their den.
Till my heart was water within me, troubled and
sore afraid.
Then long in the long night watches to the Lord
of Zion I prayed
To deliver my soul from evil, my limbs and breast
from the grip
Of a wolf, and the High One heard me, and
caused not my foot to slip.
io8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Chapter XIV
(l) Tephi ielleth of the departure of the Man of God ; (2) She
is brought on the morrow into the assembly ; (3) The lot
of Baal falleth beside Balor of the Mighty Blows, and
upon Bres the son of Elatha.
(i) Yet my troubles that night endured, and I
longed for the Prophet's aid,
For I loved him e'en as I feared him, as an
infant standeth afraid
Of a father strong and silent, yet knoweth his
help shall come
From thence if the wild beasts fright him, or
robbers seek to his home.
My sons, ye enquire of the Prophet. This sure
word I bid ye to know,
Mark well the way of the chosen, but seek not
whither they go.
Pause on their word and ponder though at times
ye may not mark
Their message. The eyes of the holy behold a
light in the dark
Of Tohu and Hinnom wherein their path hath
been set to go
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 109
Through night. On their heads are ashes.
Their garments are rent in woe.
Lamentation is with them and terror, till the
terror be overpast,
For they grope after God in Tohu till they find
Him and hold Him fast.
I dwell not now on the thing which shall in this
book be told,
How hereafter dimly mine eyes should the Friend
of the Lord behold.
He sought not pleasure of greetings, or tables
of wine and meat.
Or to Usten to mirth or music, or to sit in the
highest seat,
Or behold me in marriage garments : but set his
feet in the way
Of the Lord where'er he led him. This only
therefore I say.
That when we had left Pensauel, drawn nigh to
the land of Gwent,
He parted his ships from amongst us, and none
knew whither he went
With the sacred things of the Temple, and none
may utter their tale.
1 10 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
For his sailors were men of Ham the last whom
the Temple veil
Shall leave in the dark ; and these that sailed on
the western track
With the Prophet passed into night, and ne'er
out of night came back.
Of the sacred things I know not. The Lord
stays not to discern
The place of His habitation, whereunto my sons
shall yearn
In the days that dawn hereafter ; but lo, ye
have seen the Stone,
The Stone of the Corner remaineth. It shall not
be left alone.
When Jacob knoweth his birthright therein shall
his boasting lie,
And in many lands and islands my seed shall
have praise thereby.
There was one beside the Prophet mine eyes
were fain to have seen.
The morn that I came to Crofinn, I watched for
the cloak of green.
And the strong straight bard that wore it, as one
looks for a trusted friend
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Amongst strangers. Perchance he guessed not.
Perchance he might not attend.
(2) On the morrow came Bres with Sri to lead me
forth to the ring
Wherein were the chiefs assembled to hear men
cry for a king,
But each man envied his fellow, and each with
an angered mood
Had answered the bards and aires that spake for
the common good.
My place was set me amongst them, a seat upon
Jacob's Stone
Drawn thither by two white heifers, and draped
around as a throne
With a golden cloth of Zidon. Now, as I was
set thereon
A cloud drew back in the sky and upon me the
bright sun shone,
So folk marvelled of me and this sunshine, and
thus it was foolish talk
That I held the sun at my bidding, setting paths
for the clouds to walk
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
At my will, and I own I had joy, for I cast on
the Lord my prayer
In the night, and now in the day he had lightened
my load of care.
Now this same day was an high day, the topmost
peak of the year
Is the night that follows after, when angels and
souls appear
Unto many, yet here the druids had mingled its
boons with harms,
And setting their hearts on women delude them
with evil charms.
{3) A feast being set to Baal, his priests drew nigh
ere the noon
With a message brought from his altar that the
king be appointed soon
As this one day was propitious. The bow of
their god they brought,
That by this an arrow sent sunwards should
name the king of his thought.
So we all drew off a little to the banks and stood
to see
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 113
How the highpriest bound his eyes, and drew the
bow from his knee
Where he lay supine, and the shaft sped upwards
to seek the sun,
But an East wind struck upon it ere the height of
its flight was won
And bore it beyond the circle where it fell full
nigh to the ranks
Of Balor, lord of the Islands, where he watched
with his men on the banks.
And his firbolgs shouted for Balor, but the priests
were troubled thereby,
For their spells were within the circle ; so another
quest of the sky
Was made, and it touched the circle, where
nearly it struck down Bres
In whom was a hope of Eriu that ever grew less
and less,
For when Nuadh was maimed in battle, men held
that his strength was stayed
From rule of the miledh of Dan, and a pact unto
Bres was made*
* For seven years.
H
114 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
That he should be named chief captain, if so he
would save the land
From fomorcs coming by sea, and chiefs of the
scattered band
Of firbolgs in Man and Arran, so this for that
time was done.
But he gathered Eriu's tribute, yet gave its gifts
unto none.
Neither called he feastings or music. His heart
was empty and bare,
Though the strength of his limbs, and his beauty
of face, and his golden hair
Snared foolish matrons and maidens. Yea, deep
in his heart was guile.
And women loved and men hated his presence
throughout the isle.
Now the arrow struck through his cloak, and
pinned it unto the ring
A handbreadth from Nuadh's high seat, and
many acclaimed him king.
That was chief of the miledh of Eriu ; but the
priests had marvel thereat
If the shaft were within the circle. Moreover,
the place where he sat
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 115
Was apart, and the shafts of Baal were counted
not to the man
But rather the beth of his ensign. Moreover,
they loved not Dan,
Of whom was his mother, and whom he spake for
in Nuadh's room ;
Whose hand was severed by Sreng the son of
Sennchan, whose doom
Thereafter the scribes have written. Now Dian-
cecht, wisest in art.
Had moulded a hand in clay wherefrom might be
hurled a dart ;
And Creidna, the cunning smith, in silver
fashioned the same.
So now the hand of Nuadh flashed with a starry
flame
As he rode amongst his miledh, and many that
loved him well
Sware that the seat of Nuadh was grazed when
the arrow fell.
n6 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Chapter XV
( I ) Sri, the son of Ezra, calleth for the bow of Sampson, which
is given to Ethdan* son of Bathiam, who shooteth the
first arrow unto the Stone of Jacob ; (2) A second arrow
is shot, and fndeth the seat of Eochaid Garbh Mac
Duach ; (3) Ihe sun betwixt the horns of Baal is smitten
by the third arrow, and Sri, the son of Ezru, maketh a
psalm, thereon.
(i) Now the priests and chiefs of the land debated a
threefold choice
And a doubtful, striving greatly, till Sri with a
mighty voice
Cried, till they heard. " Not yet is the curse of
this kingdom stayed.
The sins we have sinned to Baal shall yet at our
gates be laid.
His arrow hath pointed Bres, it hath fastened his
garment's hem.
In the folds of his cloak shall Canaan set fires in
the booths of Shem."
These things cried Sri the silent ere shaping his
theme anew
* Breasal Ethadan Mac Eochaid Bosthlaim — too long for verse.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 117
He said "the arrows of Baal seek sunset or fall
askew.
Seek we shafts that are truer. Is there not in
our midst the bow
Of strength, the shafts of the mighty? Where
Dan goeth to and fro
The bow of his judge is with him, It dwelleth
amongst us here.
The merchants of Gath and Japho draw back at
its name of fear.
Have we never a champion of Dan who may
string its strength to his will ?
Is the spirit of Sampson weak to speed the shafts
of it still?"
Then Ethdan the son of Boethlam thrust through
the ranks of Dan,
Of all the sons of the island this was the broadest
man
Of shoulder and girth of limb, if somewhat slow
of his feet.
He called for the bow of the mighty, and strain-
ing back from my seat
He bent it. Mighty the string wherewith that
bow must be strung.
n8 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
A finger of sinew to armbreadth of yew, but at
last it sprung
To the cleft with a stroke like an axe when it
striketh an oaken beam,
Whilst the flesh upon Ethdan's arms sank like
waves on a stream.
Then swift to the circle's centre he sped him and
laid him down.
Setting his feet to the yew-mast. In a moment
the shaft had flown
Straight into air till we lost it, and then in a little
space
Straight out of heaven it descended like a beam
of the sun on the place
That was mine, the Stone of Israel, yet hurt not
the Stone at all
For the head's soft gold spread forth a sun at the
arrow's fall
On the grey white pillar of Jacob ; and joy upon
all men came
When they saw the altar of Bethel alight with
that golden flame :
And the priests of the gods bowed down, and
covered each man his face ;
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 119
And the chiefs of Eriu moved in wonder before
that place ;
And Httle they spake, but set me thereon ; and
lo, I had grace to speak
In their tongue, and my heart was great, though
my voice was little and weak.
"Ye Chiefs of this island, hear me. The might
of the Lord is known
In shadow, but light is rising, and grace to a
handmaid shown
Who watched and prayed in the darkness. He
leadeth her by His ford
To sit in a fair green pasture, with sheepfolds
and oxen stored.
A shepherd was David my father. God gave
him a charge to keep
Which he brake not, to feed His cattle and sever
the goats from the sheep.
Me, that am David's daughter, he maketh a shep-
herdess
Who amongst the sheep of Eriu shall know none
greater or less.
The sun that descended hither shall be as a light
divine
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Whereby to search in your pastures, and know
my sheep from the swine,
For the unclean beast is with you." Then Sri
that stood at my side,
Passed up the banks and turning, to all the people
he cried,
" The Queen of the East hath spoken. Is there
one her word to gainsay ?
Let him dwell with the swine, for God hath sent
us a Queen this day."
Then Tuirbhi the smith sprang forward to catch
at Sri by the arm.
But Sri smote straight upon him and wrought
him a deed of harm.
For he fell by the banks on his ancle, and his
craftsmen bore him away,
And his leeches bound him badly, and lame he
went from that day.
(2) Then Ethdan the son of Boethlam, cried "there
were arrows three
With the bow of strength, and the first hath
sped ; but I ask of ye
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 121
That be wise, shall I speed these others ? The
one hath a silver head,
But the other is somewhat crooked and beareth
a bolt of lead."
Then the priests drew nigh giving counsel, and
the most spake well of the thing,
So we left the plain as aforetime, and forth from
the mighty string
The second shaft flew upwards until it was scarce
discerned.
Like a star it glanced on the cloud, and then
unto earth returned,
Smiting an oaken settle which no man had used
that morn
But sideways lay on the ground, and grazed it,
and cleft a horn
Of silver therein, and smote into earth, and a
question rose
Of that seat but no man claimed it, its chieftain
was not of those
That sat in that day's assembly, and pain sank
into my heart
At that long carved cleft of silver, which stabbed
with a sudden smart.
122 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
(3) Now Ethdan fitted again the crooked shaft to the
bow
Which sped on a snake's path outwards, like a
hawk when it striketh low
But swiftly above the gazers, till the pillar of
Baal it found
And struck the gilded sun 'twixt the idol's horns
to the ground.
Bearing it into mire in the place of the swine
behind,
Wherein they lie to this day. If ye search, ye
shall surely find.
Now when they beheld this token many priests of
the idol fled.
Through revilings amidst the people, and tore
their wreaths from their head.
Gashing the flesh of their bosoms, and hid them-
selves ; but a few
Remained in the ring with Ethdan. Then Sri
that was wise and true.
Though his knee had bended to Baal, cried out
on the Lord for aid.
Forgiveness, counsel and blessing, and a psalm
of repentance he made
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 123
Which the bards took up in chorus, singing it
hither and fro
From the priests to the kneeling harpers, who
sung to a music low.
" We walked in clouds of the night. — Our eyes
are opened by Thee.
We look unto heaven and see. — Yea, we awaken
to light.
Thou knowest our blindness, oh God. — Let thy
forgiveness prevail.
Sorely our sin we bewail. — Let not thy spirit
record.
We are troubled of heart in thy presence, oh God.
— Yea troubled sore.
Thine angels vex us, thy saints abhor. — We are
struck with Thy rod.
Thou sendest us consolation. — Therefore Most
High we give praise.
Thou hast chosen a day of the days. — Thou
sendest a queen to this nation.
Thou, Lord, art a righteous King. — Out of heaven
thou givest favour.
Let our song be of sweet savour. — Lord, in Thy
praise we sing.
124 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Chapter XVI
(l) The seat whereon the silver arrow had struck is known for
the seat of Eochaid ; (2) Tephi resteth thereon when he
covieth, and giveth her love unto him ; (3) the Queen
taketh Eochaid as 'her husband ; (4) the spirit of pro-
phecy Cometh upon Sri the son of Ezrit.
(i) Now even whilst they sung a cry rose round about
The shrine of Baal, the commons made a mighty
shout,
Hauling at ropes and girdles till the lofty pillar
crushed
The turf, and for a breathspace the sound there-
after hushed.
But Baal avenged not aught, men seeking each a
stone
Wherewith to bury Baal, whose resting place is
known
Beside my house at Teamur. Then Sri and
many more
Gazed nearly on the furrow which the second
arrow tore
In the oaken seat, and Ethan who departed for a
space
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 125
Drew thither, and one asked him was not this his
chieftain's place,
And on that question Ethan raised to mine a
face of flame
Till my brow was veiled before him finding
searching prayer and shame
In the gaze he set upon me ere he answered to
them "Ay,
This is Jochad's seat and hitherto my songs were
heard thereby."
Then Sri questioned further wherefore did the
Heremon * eschew
To be with them on this high day, and the brow
of Ethan grew
Pale and red as he gave answer, " 'Tis the third
day since some cause
Which I know not drew him homewards from
Pen Edair." At his pause
Fell my veil, and full upon him was my gaze, and
well I knew
That if truth he spoke, it shamed him in some
thought not wholly true.
* Chief of the landsmen.
126 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Though I spake not, he gave answer in a sudden
word and swift,
" Read his secret. Thou dost know it." Then
my veil I did uplift
Once again, for blood ran tingling over breast
and cheek and brow,
And a spirit quickened in me which I had not
known ere now.
Some strange gladness half an anguish shook my
bosom till I swayed
Like to fall, but Sri upheld me and he set me in
the shade
Of the arched highseat of Jochad whereupon the
arrow fell.
(2) There I rested till a voice out of the distance
seemed to swell
Drawing nearer. " Jochad, Jochad," but as in a
trance I lay,
And mine eyes were blind and misty, till a sudden
golden ray
Fell upon them with a sparkle and a light to
overwhelm
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 127
Every mist. Grey eyes and fearless gazed be-
neath a golden helm!
So my soul's sun dawned upon me, and I rose
up from my seat,
Whilst the sun bowed down beneath me plucked
a cendrige by my feet.
White I stood as stands a statue when he touched
the new plucked leaf
To the withered at my girdle, kneehng still, but
still the chief
Of my stature, and the crescent which upon my
brow had rest
Was beneath the leaf he gathered when he set it
in his crest.
Stark he knelt in homage pleading to my crescent
where I stood
Icy cold, till some strange Summer thawed away
my Winter mood.
Weak I grew and blind and dizzy in that new-
born Summer drouth.
And my hands stayed on his shoulders, and my
hps just passed his mouth.
And a cry was all about us in the dancing shapes
around
128 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Moon and sun are met together, and this place is
holy ground.
(3) My bridegroom, my chosen, my strong one, in
whom my soul had delight,
My feet were by thine, my hand was in thine, as
they led us to phght
Our faith by the Stone. My heart was thy heart,
My will was thy will,
When Sri and the priests spake with us, and
bade our souls to fulfil
The vow of the lips by vow of the soul and swear
with the Soul
In sight of the people and priests and scribes
that stood to record
Our oath of faith with people and priests and
chiefs as a pair
That God made first in the land, to have it in
heedful care
And seek not ourselves but Eriu. The words of
that sacred oath
Were mine, but I know the Spirit of God had
fallen on both
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 129
For his day of days, being joyous thereat in a
waking dream
Wherein all faces and garments danced in one
sunny stream
Of eddying light, one only resting stalwart and
tall,
For though many great chiefs were round us he
stood the first of them all.
After that oath I stood calmer, and watched with
a careful eye,
When the oldest priest of Eriu set in the hands of Sri
A vessel of alabaster that once in the Promised
Land*
Was shapen and graved with the names of God by
its maker's hand.
Its oil had been pressed from the harvest of the
garden o'er Kedron's brook
Whereon mine eyes in childhood from my window
were wont to look,
Being perfumed with nard and cassia, most
precious. Then Sri drew near
To anoint me, but I stood up on my Stone, and
said without fear :
* Tir Taimgre.
I
130 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
On this stone I am set for ever. In Egypt
anointed queen
Of the Hebrews. My throne in Jesse hath come
to these hills so green
For a little space, ere it wander, but wheresoever
it roam
Jesse shall seek and find it until he come to his
home
In the City of David wherein his sons shall rule
upon earth,
When the house of the Lord be builded with
praise and blessing and mirth.
(3.) Then Sri, being moved, forbade that my hus-
band's seat be with mine,
And prophesied of us saying: "This shall be
kept for thy line
And for thee ; but he that is by thee standeth on
Eriu's sward.
It is his by birth, and hereafter, this island shall
name him lord
Of its people to be their leader, and shape their
counsel in war :
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 131
But thou art of Isaac's children the guide and the
crescent star,
Wherein thy children shall shine, till the full
round circle shall beam
Of that orb wherewith the moon at her first
appearing doth teem.
He that is chosen amongst us, He shall be great
in thee,
And thy sons that shall be after. Is not his lot
to be
A father of thrones and kingdoms ? This is the
name he shall bear.
In the tongue of this people his title is Eochaidh
OUothair,
Eocaid, Sire of the Great Ones ; these sons of the
land which is great
Magh Mor, or of Og, the holy, that they learn of
their own estate.
And yearn to the promise, and David bless them if
this they know
That holiness unto the Lord is their greatness
wherein to grow.''
Thus then spake Sri, whose silence to God was
on all men's tongue.
132 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
For the mouths of them that knew him, since in
Ezru's house he was young.
Ezru that fled out of Ghor, * when Asshur came
with his bands,
And ere he came unto Emain taught wisdom in
many lands :
But the mouth of his son was shut till his spirit,
nurtured of prayer.
Spake with the Spirit of God which worketh in
stones and air.
And whispers by reedy waters, and moves in the
mountain's shade,
And knoweth the inward parts, and wherefore
man's soul is afraid.
Now men marvelled much upon Sri, having
feared him and called him wise
And wary, but said that he feared neither spirit
nor prophesies.
Having taught as the scribes from rods, and the
teachers from ancient rules.
Being learned in many tongues, and chief of the
poet's schools,
* Fr. Gorius.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 133
Fearless but scant of speech, and though wisdom
dwelt with his word,
To this day his voice was silent when men spake
the praise of the Lord.
I beheld the people's wonder, and looked upon
Sri and knew
The mantle I oft had seen, and his word as a
prophet true.
And was glad in the Lord as my helper, whose
word should be held of me
As his who had led me from Egypt and helped
my paths in the sea.
CHAPTER XVII
(l) Maistiv* the sister of Eocaid greeteth Tephi, andtelleih of
her brother; {2) Eocaid speaketh of Ethan and Bres ; (3)
Ethan, the son of Becelmus maketh a song, whereat the
heart of Tephi is softened towards him, beholding much
good in the man.
(i) Now soon my heart contracted, for a damsel
stately and fair.
Broad-browed, full-eyed, and gracious beneath
the crown of her hair,
* The exact relationship of Maistiv to Eocaid is somewhat
doubtful ; she may have been his aunt.
134 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Large-limbed and nobly shapen, tall to a chieftain's
height,
Drew from the throngs before us, and now with
a queenly right
Took my bridegroom's head in her palms and
kissed him upon the lips.
Whilst cold went through me which passed from
heart unto finger tips ;
But my husband smiled, and said, " My queen,
yet thy servant's bride,
Behold the chief of thine handmaids, my sister
Maistiv, whose pride
Is Dan, Achaia and Eriu, who in her give fealty
to thee
Of the silver stem of Jesse, the golden flower of
his tree."
Thus shamed I my doubt with blushes, and we
kissed, and were ever knit
Though golden and dark, as sisters, unlike, yet
never a whit
Sundered in our unlikeness ; and Maistiv knelt
at my side
And told me that which gladdened my summer
of heart at that tide.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 135
But three days since as she wandered with one of
her maidens near
In the bowers of the woods by Mulach, thinking
to have no fear
Through the sacred days of assembly, lo, Bennan
the son of Kain
A foster servant of Balor's with seven men of his
train
Drew round her and led her with them ; but her
maid that was nigh had seen
From the hazel brake their doing, and slipped
from the leafy screen
To ride in haste to Pen Adair. Then, straightly
upon her word
Had Jochad taken his breastplate and girt him-
self with his sword
And leapt to his horse's saddle with three that he
had thereby.
Who galloped the trail she told of all day till the
midnight sky
Was sprinkled with stars, and came to the spot
where Bennan stayed
His course with the setting sun, and three of his
train were laid
136 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
Before them upon their onset, and one as he fled
away
Was stung by an arrow, but Jochad sought
not further to slay.
Setting her safe on his horse, which weary, carried
them back
Unto Mulach, her house, but scanty of patience
was he till their track
Was westwards in haste to Crofinn, whereat
much wonder had been,
But now she wondered a sister had drawn him
away from his queen.
(2) "Ay, sister," said Jochad, "a wonder, and much
had I longed to remain
If I had not brother or friend, but much I dwelt
on these twain,
Ethan and Bres my brother. In these I might
cast out fear
Lest the queen lacked fitting service, or my watch
of her light be near.''
Then he turned upon Bres and Ethan and held
out a hand to each,
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 137
And the first grasped forth at the hand, but
Ethan slipped 'neath its reach
And knelt till it touched his head ere he kissed
it with downcast face.
Then smiled my husband in chiding, and raised
him up in his place
And kindly questioned his gaze, and said, " Is it
well that thou
The chiefest bard of Eriu to a yeoman of Eriu
bow?
Thou castest down and thou raisest up. Our
glory in death
Is left to the bards that fill our ghosts with un-
dying breath
To rehearse our deeds to our children. Oh poet,
make us a lay
As glad as this hour is joyous, upraised as our
hearts this day."
Then Ethan said, " My lord and my king, my
spirit was dead and mute.
I was cast in the mire till thy coming. I have
broken the strings of my lute.
I have sinned and done great evil, and how may
thy servant sing ? "
138 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And my bridegroom frowned, but I took from
my finger my golden ring
Fired with a heart of ruby, and said, " If a poet
know
His evil, he eateth knowledge, and knoweth of
good also.
I give thee a bane of serpents. Take this as a
charm to part
Thy soul from venom, such magic is stored in
my ruby heart."
He set my gift to his lips, and never a harp he took
But music out of their parting poured like a
running brook
As he sang the bridesong of Crofinn, glad as that
hour was glad
Are its words, and its fame is with him, but at
whiles his eyes drooped sad
On earth ; then, lifting again, they brightened
clear at my sight,
And turned on my bridegroom also, and were
honest and filled with light.
(3) What shall I sing thee.
My mistress, my queen ?
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 139
What may I bring thee ?
Heart's blood I would wring thee
Were this not too mean.
Thou hast bid me to sing
My master, my lord.
From thy servant, oh, king,
Take this, the queen's ring,
It is all of my hoard.
This ring had its heart
Of the Lord, the Most High.
By its magic of art
It shall throne thee apart
In the midst of the sky.
Thy place under heaven
Is near by her seat,
From dawn unto even
Thy foeman forgiven
Shall kneel at thy feet.
The Lord, the Bestower,
Gives gladness to thee.
Betwixt higher and lower.
He builds thee. His tower.
For this isle of the sea,
Whose lowly shall love thee.
140 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Whose lofty bow down,
Whose priesthood approve thee,
Yet this gem set above thee
Shall be thy renown.
To thine honour give heed
And thy manhood with man.
Being noble in deed
Being chosen in seed
Being princely with Dan.
Yet the light of thine eye
Thy knowledge, thy truth.
Are faint in the sky
When thy moon rideth high
O'er the bosom of youth.
The magic she maketh
Is silvern and pure.
From the heart that she breaketh
A spirit awaketh
With strength to endure.
Receive this, my king,
With sweet spirits well stored.
The queen's heart, her ring,
Save the lays that I sing
It is all of my hoard.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 141
(4) We heard, and Jochad rejoicing, gave him his
finger ring
Golden, with fair bright pearls such as men of
the Sgiath bring
To our north coast; yea, and I gave him no
jewel or golden gem
But the olive twig my fingers had plucked
by Jerusalem
To keep my heart in remembrance. So fled
the cloudlet away
That in all the light of Summer had shadowed
my joy that day.
Then the priests went desiul * round us thrice,
and chanted a charm
To stay our steps by each other, and fence us
from outer harm,
But I know that we needed naught in our circle
of hearts complete.
So went we in to the feast, where I sat in the
highest seat
Betwixt my husband and Maistai; and Ethan
sang to the guests,
And Sri gave blessing upon us before we went
to our rests.
* Sunwise.
142 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Chapter XVIII
(l) Balorthe descendant of Neith goetk homewards angry ; (2)
Tephi sitteth in judgment ; (3) Cairbre the son of Etain
maketh a song against Bres the son of Elaiha,
(i) At the dawn we heard how Balor of the western
islands had fled
By the slope of the chariots homeward. I had
heard his horse's tread
And his wheels of iron ere dawn, and marvelled
of what might move
With that sound and quaked in the dark, but
the bridegroom spake words of love
Which builded my heart in strength, and spake
of those things that I
Might work in this land of the ocean, if the God
of my sires was nigh
Unto me as to Moses in Egypt. And thus in
this far off strand
My heart might be cheered within me with sight
of the Promised Land.*
He had heard the songs of Zion, and the common
folk in prayer,
* Tir TairDgre.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 14.3
Named its name as a charm, and knelt with their
faces there,
Not sunwise as the priests did ; and his spirit was
sorely grieved
When I told him of Zion's fall, and greatly his
heart believed
In the Lord, and he prayed that idols might
forth from our land be cast,
And joy return to Moriah, and its sorrow be
overpast.
(2) When we went from our booth at the morn, I
was led to a little hill *
By the banks, whereon was my seat ; that before
the people, my will
Might be seen and known of many, and Eriu
learn my word.
Which Sri, son of Eschmun the scribe was set
by me to record.
With Aci, son of Alghuba, as herald to shout my
choice.
Or proclaim my goings before me ; for his was a
mighty voice.
* The royal hill of the judgments at Tata.
144 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
In warfare or peace, save Ethan, was no man
broader than he,
And these twain I set together for truth and
service to me,
With En, and with Sri, and with Ogma, my
husband's champion and friend.
My almost brother, for these were faithful unto
the end,
And helpful in my beginning ; also Nuadh, the
brave old man.
Who all the days of his youth was chief of the
host of Dan,
And led the miledh of Erin, ere his hand was
smitten in fight ;
Being first to kneel at my feet; and that old
man's eyes were bright
And his strength not yet abated. He spake as a
man of war,
That his knees were stiffened with age before
men, but queens led far
And their followers never wearied ; so, smiling, I
give him thanks
For himself and his band of Dannites, and a
cheer went up from their ranks.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 145
Many a chief came after, and Crimthann came
with the rest,
And Bres, and my husband also. It irked me
much that his quest
Was to sit in my sight before me, yet ill example
had been.
If one alone unquestioned might break the state
of the Queen
Being set in judgment on all men. Full soon
my judgments began,
For a chieftain of Crimthann's came with claims
on a husbandman
Whose few sheep wandered astray, and ate three
days of his land
Ere the aire found them. Then Crimthann
standing forth from his band
Claimed the sheep for the grass j but I said " the
flock and the field
Have titles, but know ye not that each hath its
proper yield,
Take ye three fleeces then, but leave the aire his
sheep." *
* This judgment belongs of right to Cormac Mac Art.
K
146 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Then e'en Crimthann laughed aloud, and sware
that my laws were deep,
And fleeces should go for the grass. So Aci
shouted aloud
This judgment, and praise and laughter arose in
the mingled crowd.
{3) Then a weighty matter beset me whereat I was
ill at ease.
Baring my thought unto God, yea, even as on
my keees.
A bard of the land stood forward, and bidding
the chiefs regard
His song, he chanted " the rights and due re-
wards of a bard,"
And rehearsed " the rights and duties and proper
state of a chief,"
And then "the customs of Eriu in all that re-
gards a thief
And the shames that await a niggard." Lastly he
spake the grief
Of Eriu in yielding tributes to save her shores
from her foes
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 147
Without, and within her taxings, and her burden
of heavy woes
From the chiefs fierce guards and firbolgs. " Our
miledh" he sang "we keep
As sheep-dogs to guard our pasture, neither
sheep to feed with the sheep,
Nor mongrels with cheftain's mongrels who snap
at the lambs in fold.
But these watch-dogs bark in the sun, or snap
upon flies, grown old.
But Bres, their leadei" is watchful, he setteth his
ships by the beach.
His jaws are ever open, he sucketh the tax like a
leech.
He storeth gold in his chamber, even in every
house
Of Bres is a treasure chamber, but therein never
a mouse,
For the tables of Bres are empty. I passed by
a house of Bres
Who sat in a broidered garment, and toyed in
his wantonness
Amongst the locks of his damsels. His arms
were laden with rings
148 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Of Eriu's gold. Then sang I his wealth, and
the mighty things
That he wrought in fight with the Firbolgs ; after
Edlai and Turild were slain ;
And Nuadh wounded of Sreng might hardly the
fight maintain,
How he slew Mac Ere, and drove the Firbolgs,
and compassed about
Strong Sreng, till he gave him pledges. This
land hath never in doubt
The strength or beauty of Bres. By land and by
sea we know
Men fear him and women love him. Why then
is his glory low ?
Save unto foolish maidens the welcome of Bres
is cold.
Save for his own attiring the garments of Bres
are old.
Save on his shipmen's armour he spendeth little
of gold.
At his door is a couch of purple. His guest is
set on the sward,
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 149
At his door the blind and the lame unto prayer
find scant reward.
On his door are bars of iron wherewith he
guardeth his hoard.
In his house is neither music nor laughter nor
sound of feast.
In his house a fierce hound snarleth but never
another beast.
In his house is neither aire, nor chieftain, nor
scribe, nor priest.
On his hearth is one small fire, it roasteth a little
food.
By his hearth a stout wench turns it, and the
smell of the meat is good.
By his hearth one trencher is warm though he
burneth but little wood.
In his cave are rusty cauldrons that his mother
once filled with ale.
In his cave are rotting meadvats, for his bees and
his honey fail.
In his cave is a broken pitcher, and the whey in
that pitcher stale.
15° THE BOOK OF TEPHI
In his closet are wines of Chittim which even as
rubies shine.
In his closet wine of Tarshish like molten gold of
the mine.
In his closet are precious vessels, and one was
brimming with wine.
For the bard a fragment of bone ! For the bard
the pitcher of whey !
For the bard a seat on a stone ! For the bard a
hovel of clay !
From the bard sour whey, picked bone, cold
stone, for a prince this day ! ! *
* The above, though not a translation, reflects pretty accur-
ately the spirit of the song of Cairbre Mac Etain against Eocho
Bres Mac Elatha upon this important occasion. It is reputed
to be the first satire uttered in Erin ; and if so, is good for a
beginner. The portion not in triplets is inserted as a con-
venient introduction to the previous record of the niggardly
Alcibiades of the Tuatha de Danan, to whom he belonged on
the mother's side. Elatha his father was not a Dannite, but a
sea-king, probably in the first instance from the Spanish Bregia,
and afterwards settled in Britain. For my present purpose, as
I have represented him as looking to the gathering of the
scattered tribes, I must consider him as a Simeonite or Gaddite
by descent.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI ijl
Chapter XIX
Of the deposition of Bres the son of Elatha as leader of the host,
and the appointment of Nuadh of the Silver Hand in his
stead.
Now cast I mine eyes towards Jochad who
hearkened to Cairbre's song
In sorrow, for greatly he loved his fellow that did
this wrong,
And therefore answered me not, nor spake when
voices arose
Crying for him and Nuadh. Then watching these
matters close
My God gave help. Though I yearned that
Jochad might lead, I knew
His will was not to the spear, and only with need
he drew
The sword from its sheath in battle. Moreover,
meseemed that I
Was little advised of these things, lacking strength
to descry
Wherein I might choose ; and therefore I watched
long time their debate,
152 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Till it rose in stormwinds of fury and howled in
tempests of hate.
Then shook I the chain of silence,* bidding Aci
proclaim my peace ;
And he with a voice of thunder compelled their
strivings to cease,
And aiding the son of Eschmun set forth stones
on the ground.
Whereon the names of the captains of all the
hundreds were found ;
Yet Jochad's was set not with them, and this was
done by my will ;
For Jochad answered my glance with a brow un-
troubled and still.
Then the throng passed by before me, and each
man carried a stone.
Laying it as I ordered, but choice was with him
alone
Of the wand whereby he should cast it. The
heap about Nuadh grew
Till it capped the name which was written, but
the castings for Bres were few,
* Hung by the side of the monarchs, and probably orna-
mented with small bells.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 153
And Ogma Ethdan and Aci had each a mound to
his name,
And stones were given by some unto champions
of lesser fame ;
But Crimthann plucked forth his staff, nor would
he cast his stone.
Saying he loved not to lead another band than
his own ;
And Balor's men were away; therefore his lot
was bare,
And the Breogan down in the South in that
council had scorned to share,
Saying they held their coasts, and payed neither
tax nor tythe,
Having armour and spears for all men, and hoping
therewith to thrive ;
So their princes came not to Crofinn. Little
need was to count
The stones, but the son of Eschmun reckoned a
sure amount.
Four hundred and six unto Nuadh, to Bres but
fifty and three.
Then darkness fell upon Bres, and fiercely he
cried on me
154 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
"Thou shall dearly rue thy castings," and in
answer I was not slack.
" The queen casts lots for no man." But the
cloud hung heavy and black
As he turned to his booth and left us, and Jochad
my husband went
And reasoned therein, but left him in silence and
ill content.
And that night he rode to Pen Edair ; and this
was beginning of all
The strife that arose thereafter, and of many a
brave man's fall.
Yet my soul rejoiced over Nuadh, to witness the
patient man
Who braved wounds and neglect in silence ride
forth at head of his clan,
Waving his keen bright spear aloft in one shining
hand,
And bearing high in the other the mace of his old
command
Amidst the shouts of the miledh ; and he rode
by my seat to cry
" O, queen, we are thine for ever. We die in thy
name, Tephi."
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 155
Then my heart rose up as a queen's, and I spake,
" Nay, not with the rod,
Or the spear will I rule this island, but reign in
the strength of God."
Oh, mad are my people's shoutings. Their hearts
are carried away.
In love of my folk thenceforward I travail both
night and day.
Chapter XX
(l) Tephi goeth to the North to behold her land, and Ethan part-
ing from her train is taken captive by Tethra and certain
firbolgs that are with him ; (2)Jochad goeth to seek him,
and leadeth him back to their company*
(i) When the days of assembly ended, we went unto
fair Emain
Where Nuadh entertained us, and so by river and
plain
Through the North. A hundred chosen men as
our guards he sent,
* This episode took place later, after the battle of Magh
Tuireadh, and Lugaid the son of Ith was Eocaid's companion
in the rescue of Ethan, otherwise spoken of as Abchan, or
Uaithne, from Tethra and his rough followers. But I have
killed Ethan in the battle.
156 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And fifty warriors of Dan, who with helms to
their horsemanes bent
And sharp stiff spears before, were strongest
arrows of fight,
For the steeds that were under these sped each
like a shaft in flight.
Then turned we again towards Mulach where
Maistiu would have us stay ;
But e'en as we went from the North a little space
on our way
A thing befell which was evil, and showed the
wrongs of my land,
For Tethra the fomorc champion lurked with a
savage band
Of firbolgs in hills by the sea, and nought were
we told of this
For the coastmen helped the fomorcs, though
knowing the farms should miss
Many sheep and oxen and swine. Now Ethan,
going apart
To assuage his soul with silence in some sudden
blackness of heart,
Which ofttimes came upon him and drove him
forth to the field,
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 157
By these firbolgs was carried captive. Sore was
he loath to yield,
But swordless and lone on the mountain ; and all
of us angered sore
At that word. Then bade I our miledh to search
the hills and restore
Our bard to our train ; but Jochad ever wary and
brave
Said " nay, yon hills and their quagmires should
be many a miledh's grave
Hunting these goats amongst them. These
shaggy firbolgs will hide.
Each with his pouch of stones at his waist on the
mountain side,
Where the horsemen may not seek him, and the
footman climbeth aloft
Till he comes to some mossgreen hollow where
the footing is foul and soft.
Then cometh a stone from a crag, and its hurler
creepeth away,
Whilst the miledh if he be scatheless is stayed by
water and clay.
Myself shall seek after Ethan." Then cried I
against him ; but, still
IS8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Yet strongly, of right he spake. At the last, I
gave him my will
That he went, though my heart was heavy. In a
mantle of green went he.
Barefoot with his harp before him, and his gar-
ments scarce to his knee
As a harper goeth unarmoured, and therefore
unhurt of men,
Alone in the heart of the mountains to seek these
wolves in their den.
(2) Now Jochad had skill of their customs, and knew
their wont was to feast
On the stolen mountain cattle, and sleep like the
savage beast
'Neath the sky, but had meat in plenty, and song
was sweet in their ear ;
And if these had taken Ethan, it was that they
longed to hear
The magic of Ethan's singing, but Ethan was
wroth and stayed
Both his tongue and harp, and sware no music of
his should be played
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 159
Before swine ; thus the men were angry, and
surely had sold him forth
To go as a slave with Tethra to serve some chief
of the North.
Now their track was followed by Jochad till he
came to a pasture wild
Where Tethra was with the firbolgs, both man
and woman and child,
And they set their meats before him, and soon
he arose to play.
Playing the gentraith swiftly till their heels were
frolic and gay,
And they drank and danced to the gentraith till
after the sun was set.
Then he changed the string of his playing, and
the wildmen's eyes were wet
At the plaintive sorrow of goltraiths, most mourn-
ful his harp and slow
Whilst he chanted the dirge of Clidna and many a
tale of woe
Till the eyes of them all grew heavy, and further
they might not weep,
So low he murmured the swantraith and soothed
their souls into sleep ;
i6o THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Then gently playing he stirred, and murmuring
still, untied
The bonds of Ethan and left them, and played
down the valley side
Till swift on the moor they departed, and came
to us ere the morn,
Ethan silent and shamed, but like a thrush from
the thorn
Was the homeward whistle of Jochad. Now all
the hours of the night
I had sorrowed upon and blamed them, but an
hour ere dawning of light
I heard the whistle of Jochad, and stood in the
door of my tent
And railed at my early waking, till Ethan followed
my bent
And we three had mirth together. Then said
Ethan, " Queen, mistress mine.
Ye be like and unlike together, but in likeness ye
are divine.
And holy in all unlikeness : Being pure, ye are
merry of heart.
Ye are both too proud and humble of one that
lacks soul to depart ;
THE BOOK OF TEPHI i6l
Who is proud where ye are humble, and humbled
where ye are proud,
And pardoned, lacks grace to crawl as a worm for
a grace allowed."
CHAPTER XXI
( I ) Tephi Cometh to Mulach, * and seeth there the evil wrought
by Grisbane, the duughter of Richis upon Maistiu, and
the slaying of her thereafter; (2) She telleth the state of
Maistiu in the blindness which hath fallen upon her by
Grisbane, the Canaanitish woman.
(i) So came we to Maistiu to MuUagh. She made
us a merry cheer.
Her brow was open and happy. Her eyes were
steadfast and clear,
Yet often they fell upon Ethan, and as she sat by
her warp t
With her needle painting blossoms she loved the
voice of the harp
On the flowery banks beside her. This thing in
mine eyes seemed good,
* Mulach, now MuUaghmast, i.e., the wood of Maistiu.
t Maistiu was the best embroideress of Eriu, and the first who
embroidered a cross upon a garment for Angus, Tephi's second
son.
L
i62 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
For many spirits had Ethan, and his was a noble
blood
Of the princes of Dan, yet lower ; whilst Maistiu
lofty and pure
Was a queen to rule all spirits of man from a
height secure :
But there came a guest unto Maistiu, a Canaanite
from the South,
Grisbane, daughter of Richis. A poppy bloomed
in her mouth,
Her eyes danced sapphire sparkles. A baal-fire
gleamed in her hair
Of ruby and gold and amber, for the woman was
very fair.
Skilled in the twisting of tiars or stringing gems
for the neck,
And her own was white as hawthorn. On her
snowy arms no speck
Was discerned on their round whiteness ; but evil
of heart was she,
And skilled in unholy cunning, knowing the fruit
of the tree
Which is harmful, and herbs that are deadly, and
fashioning charms thereof
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 163
To slay the spirit of man or kindle his soul to
love.
Long time was this witch betrothed unto Bennan
the son of Kain,*
But chose for her sport to tarry, and still unwed to
remain,
Casting her nets on champions. Upon Ethan
now was her cast,
With spells to draw him beside her. Therefore
it pleased her at last
To send him a tryst in the beechwood; yet, 1
know not if he were weak
And minded to Grisbane's kisses, but she doubted
not he would seek
Her tryst, and herself went thither. Now chanced
it by luckless hap
I was weary within that even, and cast my shreds
from my lap
Whereon had been Maistiu's lessons, and called
her forth to the wood
* I have taken a license here. Bennan does not enter this tale
at all, whilst the man beloved of Maistiu and Grisbane with such
tragic results was Daire, son of Eocho Taebfhada, for whom I
have no use elsewhere.
1 64 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Where she walked in her height beside me until
in a path we stood
Of soft grass amidst the hazels. There I was
minded to stay
Whilst Maistiu plucking the filberts slowly went
on her way
Down the green glade before me most lovely and
tall and fair,
With all the flame of the sunset alight in her
golden hair,
When I hear a voice beside her, " My love thou
art come full late,"
Then a sudden cry and a speech upraised in
anger and hate,
"He sends Bennan's leman to mock me, but
ne'er shalt thou mock again.
Who mocketh at Richis' daughter hath blindness,
foulness and pain."
Then one screamed, and I ran in terror, and low
on the mossy ground
Lay Maistiu, lay my sister, but blemish of blood
was not found
Upon her, though deathly anguish furrowed the
broad white brow
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 165
And a darkened juice oozed slowly 'twixt the
close-shut lids below
Wherewith the skin was purpled. So sank I down
at the spot
Deeming her slain, but she moved and said to
me, " Touch me not
Lest the poison work upon thee. Bring water,"
she whispered lowj
And my mind flew swift in circles, debating
hither and fro
To stay or leave her defenceless, but quickly I
kissed her lips.
And praying quitted her side, to slip as a fawn
that slips
Through the brake till I found the open, and
chanced upon Ethan near,
Who [free and glad at a mark was tossing his
hunting spear.
Swiftly I told our hap and returned. As a hound
that flees
At the stag, sped Ethan for water, and found us,
and on his knees
He bathed the poison from Maistiu in silence.
A woman's skill
i66 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Was in the fingers of Ethan, yet I feared that the
hurt should kill,
For Maistiu spake not and stirred not, nor might
we move her to quaff
From the vessel of clear spring water. Then
was a mocking laugh
Beside us. " Never again shall thy leman behold
the day.
Or smile in thy smiles for ever. Too skilled was
my mother's way
Of mixing her charms to fail me.'' Then Ethan
rose to his feet
Raising the pitcher aloft, and hurled it down till
it beat
Full on the face of Grisbane, surely a weight like
lead,
At his knee she kneeled and stumbled. At his
feet she fell down dead.
(2) Yes, blind, ever blind thereafter, unto the end of
her days,
Yet cheerful therewithal winning great affection
and praise.
Where she might not broider her flowers she prac-
tised a cunning craft
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 167
Of her own with a fish-hook straightened, and
raised up her face and laughed
When I praised her taste in the colours. My
children loved her and clung
Round her knees for kisses and stories. Many
tears both of old and young
Water the flowers o'er Maistiu. — Of Ethan an
eric fine
Was claimed by Richis of Breogan, a merchant
who drew forth wine
And armour and vessels from Tarshish ; but
message I sent him back
That Grisbane had sought her slaying, and well
for her none was slack
To answer such woman's prayer which saved her-
self from the stake ;
For scarce had I pardoned Grisbane even for
Maistiu's sake.
Who prayed me towards softer answer. Our
Ethan was soft with her
And gentle to all her teachings, but he brooked
not any spur,
Scarcely my touch thereafter, oft hiding himself
afar,
i68 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
At times returning with songs which stirred up
men's hearts to war,
AX. times returning with dirges he sang with a
face like death,
At whiles with riddles the priesthood debated
with angry breath.
Much did my heart lean towards him. Were I
not set as queen
With Jochad my love, by Maistiu my chosen
portion had been
When I saw him lying before her with the dews
of grief in his eye.
And the Lord that knoweth the heart, hereafter
shall tell me why.
Chapter XXII
( I ) Bres seeking aid of Elatha and finding it not^ sendetk unto
Balor lord of the isles, and to the provinces of the north
and the firbolgs. Crimthami undertakes to guard the
western shore. Confusion is in the latid and counsel
undecided.
(i) Now came ill tidings to Mulach, for Bres in
Elatha's hall
Sought aid, but his father heard him and hel ped
not his son at all.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 169
Beholding his firstborn angered, yet causeless in
ill content.
For Bres came unto his presence, and thus their
discourses went.
Said Elatha, " Welcome, oh Bres, but wherefore
now art thou come
When charge of the miledhs of Eriu forbiddeth
thee long to roam." *
" I have left them, I plundered their gold, and
now in the mire they rout
In fury and hunger for roots, and are fain to cast
me out."
"My son, the good of a man is naught by the
good of a land."
" I have sucked the fruit of the soil, but fain
again would I stand
On the necks of the men I hated, and set their
houses to flame."
" My son, thou speakest before me the words of
an open shame.
Be sure of this, that a kingdom never again shall
plight
* This conversation still exists.
I70 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
To an unjust seeker the faith betrayed of one
that had right."
So Bres flung out from his father and hurried
into the north
And gathered the barks of the fomorcs that
through all the islands go forth,
And summoned the Sgiath and Galls, and sent
forth men to the west
Unto Balor, Indech and Bennan, with gold to
help in the quest
Of their coastmen hillmen and fomorcs. These
promised him certain aid.
And Corrgen only of Ailech refused the askings
he made.
Crimthann answered him not, as always his
custom had been
Unto men, but sent me a script wherein he
named me as queen.
And wrote, " Thou hast builded a throne if its
base be the noble's will.
But mind thee that over his serfs the Chief is the
chieftain still.
Bid me to fight with a chief, I will answer then
at thy call.
TBE BOOK OF TEPHI \Ti.
But I wrestle not with my swineherds, nor throw
with cooks for a fall."
So I sent him a message back, " To the queen is
thy word made plain.
And she biddeth thee keep thy house against
king-thieves of the main,
Which is no ill service to Eriu, nor unbefitting a
chief."
Then came a captain of his from his keep with
an answer brief,
" I obey," and Jochad approved me ; but chiefly
he set his care
On Bregia. Before this day the Breogan had
little share
In the deeds of the regions northwards. Strong
were their men and tall,
Their weapons mighty and many, their cashels
fenced with a wall,
Whilst their traders rich within them drew to-
gether as one.
Now Jochad feared that in Grsibane the hope of
their peace was gone.
If their spears were against us Nuadh should be
but a feeble strength ;
172 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Therefore we called him from Emain and heard
these matters at length ;
And he spake of his miledh unpaid, save his own
band the most were lax
To practice, and many escaped ; whilst Bres had
handled the tax
Witholding their food and armour, and now few
taxes were paid
For the miledh, but many to Baal, the people
waxing afraid
At cursings of priests, and rumours of war ; yet
the tax of gold
Was paid to the fomorcs, but failed their thievish
vessels to hold.
These had harried the coast of the north, and
pillaged the island of Mod.
Where they burned the house of Ogma, and beat
his men with a rod.
Whilst they set them to bind his timbers fair into
many a raft,
And bore them away to Lochlann each at the
heels of his craft.
Nuadh, though fieryhearted, told us no braggart's
lies.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 173
He longed as a steed for battle, but yet was wary
and wise.
Braggarts came thither to us, and most of the
common folk
And farmers believed that I by spells might
lighten their yoke.
I know that the Lord is mighty with little or
great to find
An aid, but as queen mine office was all my
people to bind
In one, not kindle their strifes; so leaned 1 on
Nuadh's word
And on Sri and my husband Jochad, and sware
I would lift no sword
If other resource there might be. Much weighty
discourse we had.
The land being vexed with tumult, the hearts of
the rulers bad.
Now mostly we feared that Breogan might set
themselves to our harm.
Then said I before them all, " I have neither
spells nor a charm
To blast like the witches of Breogan ; yet ye have
heard the fall
174 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Of Ai. If God be with us, the shields of the
coastmen's wall
Shall fail at my word. Then Jochad and Sri
beheld me and saw
How my heart had hidden purpose, and my will
unto these was law.
Chapter XXIII
(l) Dala scorneik in the gate of Mulach, and is discomfited by
Ethan ; (2) Tephi goeth to his reliefs ajid meeteth Lugaid
the son of Ith of the Breogan^ who was come out against
her ; (3) she leadeth Lugaid u7ito her hushand^ having the
most part of the Breogan with her.
(1) Next morn departed Nuadh to summon the
chiefs of the host
To Emain, and nigh to our gate came a heathen
bard with a boast
How Balor was drawn unto Bres, and those
would make me a feast
Unto every unclean bird and to every noisome
beast ■
And my miledh were little to peck at though few
should be left alive
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 175
" The horses of Balor a thousand, his chariots one
hundred and five,
The men of his hills five thousand, four from his
septs in the plain.
Of the miledh of Bregin three thousand draw
nigh from the southern main,
And Crimthann shall be behind thee with the
war-wolves of Pen Edair
That are never slack to their hunting. Yea,
surely they shall not spare."
Now, save that fighting in battle a bard is sacred
of men,
Surely an arrow had sped from our fences and
slain him then,
But Ethan was angered, and ran from the watch-
gate, and cried his name,
" Ho Dala, called son of Cliath,* that knows
not his mother's shame.
Called also son of the swineherd, called also son
of the groom.
It seems in Carnamatirech t thou findest but
little room.
* A harper of the 3rd rank.
t The fort of the wolves. *Still in fair preservation.
176 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Outcast by Bennan the swine, Nay, that is a
wrong indeed.
Though he rout thee away from his trough, I
fling thee food for the need
Of thy mouth, three mouths in gaping ; of thy
teeth ill ordered but great,
That thy paunch which sags before thee may rise
up in high estate.
May it fill thy hunger, oh Dala, and stay the
edge of that note
Of famine above the hoarseness of crows which
dwells in thy throat
When thou singest the praise of Bennan."
Therewith an apple he sped
Large but of early Summer, and smote the mouth
in the head
Of Dala, the son of Cliath, and brake the half of
his teeth
Parting his jaws asunder, whilst blood ran stream-
ing beneath.
He might not answer to Ethan, but staggering,
turned him back
And shamed by scorn of our grooms with totter-
ing limbs and slack
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 177
Passed down the path to the meadows. I heard
the sound of their cheer,
And leaving my maidens alone, to the guard at
our gate drew near.
And beholding him driven away, enquired of
wherefore he went,
And saw him fall on his face as he drew to a
broad-stretched tent
Some stranger had pitched there at morn, but
none came forth to his aid ;
So I took a vessel of water, and ran, and was not
afraid.
Then Ethan and Sri ran after, but I waved them
back from the field.
And came on its sward to Dala, and down by his
corse I kneeled,
And brake the fruit from his jaws, and cleansed
them of blood, and poured
A wine of the South therein that was given by
Ith the lord
Of Tarshish, sunlight and honey. Then after a
space he woke,
But his eyes were troubled and weary and never
a word he spoke.
M
178 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
(2) Still bathed I his front with water when I guessed
behind me the tread
Of one that came from that tent, so pausing I
raised my head
And saw one mighty of stature, the plates of
whose greaves were gilt,
The sheath of whose sword shone rubies, and
hung from a golden hilt.
The breadth of whose breast was spacious, and
scaled with an armour of gold,
Dark bearded, yet white and ruddy, with features
of princely mould ;
And he spake, " Do elves of Eriu go forth in her
fields by day
To work their charms, and draw the soul from
the lips and slay ?
So would I be slain if thou wiliest, but what is
that potent charm
Wherewith thou hast restored him ? Wouldst
thou work him a further harm ? "
Then smiling I said, "No charm, but wine I
poured in his mouth
To help him out of his swoon. In vines of the
warmer South
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 179
Was it grown of the best of the land, for in
Gadesh the men of Ith
The lord of Breogan and Eber have vines and
are rich therewith."
Then that mighty chief was stirred, and took my
phial to his hand
And said, " Yea, this is of Gadesh, what knowest
thou of that land,
If woman not spirit thou art ? for never such
sight, I ween,
Before the tent of Lugaid as thee and thy garb
was seen."
Then joyous I said, "Oh Lugaid, art thou the
son of the soul
Of him that named me his daughter, who, brook-
ing no chief's control.
Went out with thine own five vessels to seek thee
a home, and build
Thee a house wherein to rule. Thy father heard
thou wast killed
On the seas, and mourned, and told me thy tale.
Why then art thou here ?
I was but his child by choice ; but thou his true
son shouldst cheer
i8o THE BOOK OF TEPHI
The eyes and ears of his age." " If thou art my
sister," he said,
" I seem to hear and see the voice of one that is
dead.
My mother, but set that by. I am here to speak
with the folk
Whom Jochad brings from the middens and
hovels and stables and yoke,
To find there some champion. I sailed upon
many seas till I found
A people of Breogan. There, I drew my ships
to the ground
To reign as a prince amongst them, and though I
love not the chiefs
Of the inland clans, they are fellows. I share not
a bard's beliefs
That men be equal, and seek to see if my equal
they find
In Ogma, or Ethdan, slaves of the fomorcs time
out of mind,
Or in Jochad, strong though men speak him, or
perchance in one of his serfs
That dips in his chiefs own basin a paw well
dyed in the turfs.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI i8i
Thus sped I before my Breogan, and now wilt
thou pass with me
If thy sick man be helped, with my challenge ;
and soon forsooth thou shalt see
And praise thy brother as victor." Then seeing
that Dala rose
And departed, I went with Lugaid, and spake at
his arm drawn close,
Towards the ditch we digged on the hilltop, and
when Ethan and Sri would lay
Themselves in our path, I raised my hand till
they went away.
Then Lugaid raised up his voice and shouted,
" Oh, heremon.
Called from thy farmer folk, wouldst thou speak
with a chief alone ?
Some call thee a sheep-dog only, some speak thee
a clumsy bear. *
I fain would know thee a lion, if not, flee forth
as a hare
From Lugaid, whose spear is mighty ; from
Lugaid, whose miledh shall stand
* Garbh, the rugged.
i82 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
As a wall of brass before thee, and break the
strength of thy band
Ere it fall to the wolves of Balor, the swine of the
central plain
And the mountain bulls that bellow with Bennan
the son of Kain."
(3) Then saw I a golden helmet gleam by our fence
of stake.
A light leap over the trench made Jochad, but
naught he spake,
Coming down the slopes to meet us, whilst I saw
the hurdles start
And tips of a score of arrows wait eager for
Lugaid's heart.
Naught but a cloudless wonder dwelt on my
husband's face,
As with words of happy greeting he came to our
resting place.
" Thou hast greeted the queen, by thine armour I
know thou hast titles and fame.
By sea and land, but neither thy father's house
or thy name.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 183
Thou shalt be a champion of Breogan, those
ancient seamen and brave,
Sons of the sons of them that rule on the ocean
wave
Far southward into the sunlands." Then spake
I, " Lo, I am here
To bring thee my brother, Lugaid, the son of my
father dear,
The old man I loved in Tarshish when I dwelt
in his house awhile,
Who gave me the men that brought me unto
thee and thy fair green isle.
Now my brother bringeth me Breogan." Then
deep in his beard low laughed
Strong Lugaid and said, " More deadly hath been
the magic I quaffed
Than his whose teeth had been broken. But
now I see thee aright
For a lion, I have my longing, and hail thee a
lord of fight
Who shall shame no man as his captain, and
Balor is none of mine.
Though he may perchance excel me in strength
to wrestle with wine.
l84 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And Bres may win at the chess-play. I bow to
thy queen great righ *
And thy helm with her ruby above it. Thy man
henceforward am I."
Then Jochad embraced him and said, " My queen,
my mistress, my bride,
This day thou art champion of war, the chiefest
strength of our side."
And Lugaid laughed, " It is little thy queen hath
conquered in me ;
But the daughter of Ith may call the sons of the
sons of the sea.
And win back a loyal answer. Fair queen, so
haughty and small.
Say wilt thou travel with me to set on thy crown
the wall
Of the Breogan towns of the South to keep thee
here on thy hill."
Then Jochad was grave, but I smiled, and he
spake not against my will
When I followed Lugaid afoot till he set me on
Enbarr his steed
* Righ, king.
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 185
And went by my side five furlongs. Now
whither our road should lead
I had guessed. O'er a rough rock's shoulder we
climbed and below us stood
The miledh of Bregia camping betwixt that cliff
and a wood.
At Lugaid's shouting they turned and knew him
and drew anigh
Whilst he spake of me to his men, for that crag
was set too high
For my speech to pass to their ears, but high on
the topmost stone
I stood few paces above him, and a thought I
had made my own
Was this. The trident of gold I had from the
Pen of the Gate
Should be known of these with the twiceforked
spears. By a happy fate
I had seen my maidens bearing it forth in my
house that day.
And chosen this for a rod, and a weapon to be
my stay
When I went down the field to Dala. Now I
raised it on high
i86 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
That its threefold fangs of gold might lighten
against the sky;
And the miledh hailed their standard, for many a
grandson of Tyre
Knew in what temple shone in the god's hand
such dart of fire,
And great was the shouting then, though some
of the folk were wroth,
Till there came division amongst them, and part
of their band drew forth
With Richis to go unto Balor, but more than the
half turned back
And passed by the crag, and followed where
Lugaid pointed their track.
Two hours had I gone from Mulach, when again
I might discern
Once more the eyes through the wattles that
waited on my return.
For none might pass through the trench save
Jochad gave them command.
I that departed with one, returned with an
armoured band.
Twelve hundred and three and fifty, whilst some
stole thither by night
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 187
Until Breogan stood fourteen hundred, a wall to
hearten our fight ;
With Lugaid the stone of their corner, the prow
of the thorny hedge
That should brush the horsemen asunder, as a
swan that stirreth the sedge.
Chapter XXIV
( I ) Lugaid journeying with them vieeteth his father by the way,
who is secretly slain by three Canaanites thereafter ; (2)
Lugaid inaketh jest of the porters at the gate of Emain ;
(3) The tribute is cut off.
(i) At the dawn I said, "let us carry to Nuadh the
Breogan aid,
That his soul be uplifted with us, and his miledh
be not dismayed
By tidings both North and South. So I and my
husband led
With Lugaid, and Ogma tarried a space behind
at the head
Of our folk and the men of Bregia. Then, pass-
ing on without fear
We saw on our path a greybeard most noble of
horse and gear
; THE BOOK OF TEPHl
Who came in the way before us ; and now, be-
hold, it was Ith,
And he fell on the neck of Lugaid, and great was
our joy therewith.
Beholding his son he wept ; and gave to the Lord
great praise
That his eyes found light to behold him, before
the darkness of days.
Tidings had come out of Bregia that his son was
living as yet,
Thereupon he made no tarrying, but quickly his
course was set
To see if that word were true ; and now, than his
hope more swift.
His son had kneeled for his pardon. Then both
did their gaze uplift
To my face, and he kissed me also, and blessed
me of heaven that his son
Was found, and had counsel by me, and bade
him his course to run
'Neath the eyes of his daughter Tephi, enquiring
much of our war.
Then said he, "Ye call me, Ith Cian, the 'light
that liveth afar,'
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 189
In this land where my ships come often, but soon
shall ye see me near.
I am not too weak in mine age to handle the
sword and spear.
I speed and return with succours. One hour
with ye I remain :
Then back unto Edair's harbour to summons the
ships of Spain.
In a month hence abide my coming. My going
shall not be long.
My ships shall be very many, their engines and
armour strong."
He heeded not for our chiding. " Nay, I have
seen my son
My very son, Lugaid, in right. My journey is
wellnigh run.
Let me strike one stroke against Balor. He also
is mighty, yet old.
His seawolves have oft sped southwards to harry
sheep of my fold."
Thus spake he, and would not tarry ; yet scarce
had he left our sight,
Riding full swiftly to Edair, when now at entrance
of night
igo THE BOOK OF TEPHl
Three champions of Tyre drew nigh, and though
the even was dim
They guessed of Ith by his riding, and their rid-
ing was known unto him,
For he drove them forth out of Eber, being proud
that no man might stand
Of the chiefs of Eber before them, and haughty
in all the landj
Yet vahant and strong and wealthy. Now these
were sworn unto hate
Of the lord of Tarshish, therefore he turned him-
self by the gate
Of a farmstead amongst the cattle, but the eldest
man of the three
Beheld him and followed after, and beat him
down on his knee
Whilst his brothers slew him with stones, and
after they builded a heap
Of the stones above Ith Cian, and trusted their
deed would sleep :
But ye know, and therefore I write not, the tale
that the bards shall tell
To the sons of men for ever, how these princes
of Canaan fell
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 191
'Neath the burdens of Lugaid upon them.
Though greatly they strove therewith,
They were laid at the last 'neath the stones where-
under they buried Ith.
We knew not this on that night, yet deemed that
Ith was no more
When his succours came not from Tarshish,
knowing the love he bore
To his daughter and son, and his wrath against
Balor, Indech and Bres.
(2) Yet this night we guessed not his doom, and went
without heaviness ;
And the next day drew unto Emain, riding
thither full fast
Before our people, and Lugaid swore that a jest
to last
Should be in our coming thither. So went he
afoot to the hall.
His brightness veiled by a cloak. Now there
stood two guardians tall
And haughty by Nuadh's threshold, and these
men bade him to stay
192 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Until his errand was told them. Then said he
humbly, "I pray,
Doth Nuadh require a wheelwright?" and the
porters answered him " Nay,
We have Luchta, the son of Lomhaid." Then
asked he again, " I pray
Your favour, wants he a smith," and the porters
again said "Nay,
Our smith is the thrice-skilled Colum.'' Then
bolder he spoke, " I pray
Lack ye here for a champion ? " and loudly the
men cried " Nay,
Great Ogma cometh and Ethdan." Then sweetly
he sung, " I pray.
Want ye my songs as a harper ? " and proudly
they answered "Nay,
For Ethan comes oft to our tables." So, solemn,
he asked, " I pray.
Have ye preachers and pious amongst you,''
and scornful they spake him, " Ay,
The wisdom of Sri, the preaching of Mathgen."
So laughed he, " I pray.
Are cupbearer's near to your lord ? " They
answered in mocking, " Ay,
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 193
Dathi leads twelve clad in crimson?" Then,
formal, he questioned, " Pray,
Be there scribes or recorders with them ? " Where-
upon they answered him, " Ay,
Many scribes under En son of Eschmun." So,
last he said, " I beseech
Your mercy in asking, hath Nuadh provided a
skilful leech?"
One laughed and the other yawned. " The chief
of that craft have we,
With son and daughter beside him, wellnigh as
skilful as he."
Then Lugaid cast cloak, and shouted, "Go,
Kamal the son of Knees
And Hamal son of Formality, ask thy master, of
these
Which man may do every service?" Right
swiftly these lackeys sped
At his chiding, and Nuadh heard them, and came
to the gate and led
The " man of all crafts " * to his table, where
laughter and mirth we found
* " Ildanach," a title of Lugaid's, who may have picked up
his oriental terms of abuse (Gamul Mac Figol and Chamal Mac
N
194 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
To greet us upon our coming, whilst gaily that
jest went round.
(3) Now as we sat at our meat, there came nine
men with demand
That the tributes set by the fomorcs be given into
their hand ;
And spake with threats in their mouths that the
taxings be swiftly made,
Bidding us hear that thereafter a double tax
should be paid.
If Balor and Tethra should tarry, or Indech
should stay his oars
That he sent unto Losken-lomu, to bring with
speed to our shores
His barekneed kernes from the North. Then
stood I before these men
And said, "The Shepherd of Israel keepeth
wolves from the pen,
Rhiagild) in his wanderings, or learned them of the folk whom
he is reported to have sent as far as the Persian court for steel
weapons, probably unobtainable further west at that period.
The physician's name was Diancecht, the lady doctor's
Armedda.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 195
His flock shall be tythed of no man." Then
Lugaid arose in wrath
And falling swift on the seafolk, with the spear-
staff he drove them forth,
To return unto Indech and Balor. But all hearts
gathered to me,
For my labour was fallen upon me, and my
travail for victory.
Chapter XXV
(l) Tephi holdeth her council at Grelldch Dollaid, and cheereth
the men of Eriu ; (2) Eocaid gathers his force of the 7nen
of the land and of the horsemen of Dan, whilst Lugaid
goeth to the South and Ogma to the North. They make
their trysting in the West, by the water which is now
called Unius, and Tephi sendeth messages to Elatha,
(i) Old Nuadh's heart rose up as a man of war to
cheer
Our hearts, a steed that snuffeth and knoweth
the battle near,
And we planned our secret council that was held
on a Sabbath day,
For our righteousness is with the Lord in our
toiling as when we pray.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
In a hidden hold we made it, of the chosen of
all our land,
And greatly the people marvelled of the deed
which thereat was planned,
Wherefore men call it my amrun,* for all men
marvelled to see
How God spake forth in Eriu by the Spirit He
set on me.
Now after a while, I bade that each man speak of
the gift
He would give unto God and Eriu the burdens
thereof to uplift,
Then Mathgen the wise said, " I and the priests
through the hills seek aid,"
And Figol son of Manoah, " Oft on my knees I
have prayed
Amongst the men of the woodlands, and surely
these know me well,
And will seek at my bidding to Tephi to fight
with the powers of hell."
Bright Dathi said, " I am known by many a river
and lake
* A marvel.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 197
To the aire's and shepherds, and these will surely
come for my sake.''
And Lugaid, " Of Breogan, my strength, I issue
forth with my spear,
The Destroyer, with Perez the Mede its light-
nings were seen with fear.
None such hath been known in Eriu. 'Tis a
flame of thrice-tempered steel."
Now many spake of their will for the good of the
land to deal.
Gabhran the smith saying, " Never shall freedman
of Eriu want
For spearheads or bolts or javelins till the coals
of my forge be scant."
And Luchtna, "For Gabhran's spearheads such
shafts will I surely make.
As shall fill each outstretched hand, and no one
of my shafts shall break."
And Creidne, " Of every spear which Gabhran
and Luchtua's skill
Shall fashion, the heads shall cleave, for my
rivetting is not ill."
Last, Jochad said, "Ye have promised each and
all as a King
igS THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Yet myself is the Queen's first servant, and there-
fore myself I bring."
Then Lugaid smiled and he said, " The serfdom
of all is seen
In their mouths, but what wage for labour shall
be to thy slaves, Oh, Queen ? "
Then answered I at that asking, " Little my need
of a slave,
But free service to this my kingdom." And
thereon I made them a stave.
Not upon slaves are my gifts poured out.
Strong olive, anointed and digged about.
Mine oils are sovran o'er weakness and
doubt.*
(2) We determined that Lugaid should pass with his
Breogan homeward and west
* Arrosisor dosifius
Dosseladh arosel
Arrosdibu nosriast
For the difficulty of translating the Great Queen's utterances
see Whitley Stoke's " Revue Celtique." I am no scholar.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 199
And Jochad be with me at Tailtea,* whereto I
should gather the quest
Of all the lands of my province, and also through-
out the soil
Of Eriu send men to gather hills fields and
pastures from toil,
Loyal folk but skilless in warfare. Yet Jochad
had heed of all.
And taught them and gave them arms ; and their
women and babes would fall
At my feet, and pray me to lift the curse of the
robber bands
That issued out of the cashels, and harried the
farmers lands
Till they lacked the oxen to plough with, and
often they failed to eat
The very seed they had planted, for oft these
carried the wheat.
In my tears I promised their asking, and gave
them of that I had,
* The seat of Tephi in her immediate domain of Teffia
(Tephi's land), where she probably died, being carried thence
Teamuir for burial. Teffia included Longford and West-
meath.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Grown little now by my spendings, but the souls
of my poor were glad,
Till some called me not " Teia '' but " Dea," and
save that they dwelt with the clods
I had needs reproved them more sharply, for I
love not that names of gods
Be given to men ; and after, such rebuke was
often my need
In chiding this foolish people, but my preaching
hath little heed.
Ogma went from us northeast, and passing a
space inland
He drew us a noble succour of men of war to his
band,
And passed unto Ailech to Corrgenn, and thus
in a six weeks' space
We had gathered Eriu amongst us, and drew
towards the trysting-place.
Where Balor and Bres should find us, and where
should be held that fight
Which should darken the clouds of Eriu or fill its
dwellings with light.
One thing unknown of my husband I did, for I
feared to fall
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 201
Therein. We heard how a bridge betwixt the
isles of the Gall *
And Eriu was wellnigh built by boats going
hither and fro
With Sgiaths and Firbolgs in thousands, for
Indech had not been slow
Of help unto Bres, nor Tethra, nor Omna nor
Bagma the chiefs
Of the fomorcs, to bring with ships these bands
of savage reliefs
Unto Balor. Then sent I word to Elatha the
father of Bres
That the host of his son grew mighty. His
honour grew less and less,
Bringing wild Firbolgs to plunder a kingdom
which once his arm
Was strong to defend against them. So I told
my husband my charm
Had been woven to weaken Indech, and surely
my soul spake true.
For Elatha sent many vessels to harass that
pirate crew,
* Foreigner.
202 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And the isles of the Sgiath's and Firbolgs, till
lastly these feared to come,
Whilst many that came already went back to
defend their home.
Chapter XXVI
( I ) Tephi and her husband come to the ford of Unna * ivhere
Eocaid dreameth a dreajn which she may not interpret,
though she is cheered thereby ; (2) the chiefs of the host
assemble thither, and a camp is pitched, whilst the battle
is set for the eve of Samhain t ; (3) the fighting of the first
day, Ruadan, being treacherous, is slain by Gabhra?i the
smith*
We were first, one week ere Samhain in the tryst-
ing by Unna's stream.
In the early dawn thereafter, my husband told
me his dream
How I stood o'er the pool of Unna one foot on
his own green land.
But the other firm on a lion that slept on a fair
bright strand.
Nine braids of my locks spread forth, and lo, the
first of a three
* " Destruction,' named after the battle,
t October 30th.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 203
Was wavy and many tangled in all the isles of
the sea.
Now the second was thick and braided on a
broad land wealthy and fair
In the West, but that tress was severed, and cities
grew from each hair
That lay on that noble pasture. Then the third
tress spread to the north
In a great land buried in snows, which melted till
streams gushed forth
Amidst oceans of golden cornland. Then he
spake of the second three.
How a thin hair, strongly braided, upheld the
weight of the sea.
And a second stirred by a westwind flew to a
golden hill.
Whilst its fellow gave shelter from heat o'er realms
stretching beyond it still.
Of the third three, all went south, and one was
spread over Lud
And Phut, but the other twain flew out o'er an
endless flood
Unto the endings of earth, and there they fastened
their hold
204 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Upon mighty desert places in the heart of whose
stones was gold.
Now on every tress of the nine were golden cym-
bals which spoke
In the ears of the lion's cubs which lay at my
foot : but he woke
Ere ever his dream was ended. Yet he watched
four eagles draw
Towards the lion to blind his eyeballs, and the
lion opened his maw
And roared in face of the eagles. Then started
he full awake.
That dream might I ne'er interpret, yet my soul
is glad for its sake.
(2) Yet the roaring was of young lions, for Lugaid
and Ogma were there
With their force before the daybreak, and surely
they did not spare
To roar as lions in their coming. Thus was our
host complete.
And Nuadh went forth before us, and ordered a
battle seat
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 205
On the green slope stretched before us. Noble
was now that host,
And valiant, but little of number before the chiefs
of the coast.
With their swarming Firbolgs and shipmen.
Now each side ordered its fence,
And we parleyed, and set the battle of the forces
for five days thence.
Upon Samhain's day which they chose, for this
was a feast unto Baal,
But my Stone of defence was sure. His pillars
of little avail.
(3) Now the plain by the stream of Unna was level
and broad and green
Till the rising fences of Balor on a further hill
might be seen
Whence shoutings came to our ears, and cham-
pions out of his side
Came forth in the field and mocked us, and I
would not any replied.
Yet often they went ; and some were victors, and
some men fell.
206 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
I might scarce forbid such strivings; but this
thing I knew right well,
That such are not for a leader in whom a nation
is lost,
So laid my gesa* on Lugaid and Ethdan at
every cost
To bide in their booths with Jochad. Nuadh
secure might ride.
For the chief of a host is sacred till his battle be
ordered wide.
That first day were many combats of lesser men,
and a car
Of Ochtriall son of Indech we took with his
craisechs t of war.
When he went to stop the springs to our front,
for the streamlet ran
Too near to their slings for our sutlers. Also
division began
Of these, and the spears which Gabhran and
Creidne and Luchtna made,
* Gesa, command with curse for disobedience,
t Craisech, a broad heavy spear with a blunt point, used by
Firbolgs and seamen.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 207
Each with its well-poised shaft, and rivets, and
bright keen blade,
Till the foe had heed of that forest, and at even,
one that we knew
Came from them and went amongst us, for the
stream of his life he drew
From a captain of Dan, though his mother was
even a Canaanite,
In whom a chief of the fomorcs long time had his
heart's delight.
Ruadan was his name, and much he enquired of
our gears,
And saw where Gabhran the smith was casting
the ruddy spears,
And Creidne plying his hammers, and Luchtna
shaping the wood.
The three great craftsmen of Eriu, and the work
of their hands right good
And speedy ; whilst Tuirbhi, crippled, wrought at
his forges ill,
Though had he been strong in his prime, our
Gabhran, his pupil, still
Was his master in skill and swiftness. Then the
spy to Tuirbhi went back.
2o8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And told him we cast ten spears unto one, and
his arm was slack ;
So Ochtriall, grieved for his craisechs, moved him
to seek our camp,
And find if sods might be gathered the fires of
our forge to damp ;
And he took a spear of a woman who ground it
upon a wheel,
And hurled it swiftly on Gabhran, thinking there-
by to steal
Supply of our weapons from us ; but the spear
that went by his back
Tore but the flesh of the smith, so Gabhran sped
on his track.
Drawing the head from his side, and hurled an
avenging stroke.
May all traitor's perish like Ruadan, whose breast-
bone and back were broke.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 209
Chapter XXVII
(l) Ogma fighting with Tethra wins Ormai his sword; (2)
Bres Cometh to chide, and seeking Lugaid, is fought with
by Ethan the poet, who is shamefully smitten by Bennan,
the son of Kain, whom Aci, son of Alghuba, beareth dead
unto Tephi,
(i) Tethra, the sea-king, came next day in the midst
to deride
Both Jochad and Ethdan, but Ogma went for
them on our side,
Falling swiftly upon him, and beat him back to
their fence again.
Had Tethra not fled from Ogma, surely he then
were slain,
Having lost his sword behind him. That sword
was heavy and keen,
Its hilts well guarded, and Ogma bore it back to
the queen,
Saying, " Ormai, its name is well known." Now
graved on the blade were lines
Straight, or sloped in their groupings ; therefore
I asked their designs,
o
210 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Then Ogma said, " These be names of champions
that Tethra slew
With Ormai in former days, and each is a record true
Of the sixteen feats that be graven." Sri also
approved him of this,
Reading forth the champion's titles. Then out-
spoke Ogma, " I wis.
It is well that a name remains of a miledh and of
his deed.
If I fall, no man shall know my resting save such
a screed
Be set on the stone that marks me." Surely so
it was done
With grief on the headstone of Ogma that day
when our fight was won.
(2) On the first three days flowed balsams, on the
fourth a river of grief.
Out of their gate at morning shone bright the
arms of a chief
Which blazed in the Autumn sunrise. A figure
of princely mould,
Whose spears were iron of Tarshish, his buckler
of beaten gold.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 211
And his helmet and breastplate likewise. Then
all men knew him for Bres,
Who came before us and spake, and his words
were of bitterness.
"How long did I herd the swine, that now
amongst wolves am found,
Whilst the swineherd Nuadh lay sick, when Ogma
crouched like a hound
For my scraps, and Jochad was mine ere ever he
gave his heart
Unto piglings routing for roots, and a woman
bade me depart.
With none of these will I fight, for these were
my servants all ;
But lo, I behold with swineherds a champion
slender and tall,
And meseems, well skilled in his saddle, who ne'er
hath been dog of mine.
I will fight with him if he listeth, and the light of
his courage shine
As bright as doth Canbarr his helmet.'' Then
Lugaid grew mad for fight,
Till I angered and claimed my gesa, his champions
holding him tight,
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Yubor, Seibar, and Eru, whilst they bade him re-
member Spain
And the oath he made to his sire, and how he
had right to reign
If his father indeed had perished. Still, sore was
his mood to go
Till in the midst of our chiding, we heard a
murmur run low
Of wonderment round our trenches, and setting
mine eyes to the fence
I beheld how Ethan the poet like an arrow of
war sped thence.
With shaft and sword, but unarmoured, whilst
Bres in the open field
Laid low his spear for encounter, and eyed him
above his shield.
Now the shaft which Ethan carried was heavy
and sharp and thick.
Through the golden shield he hurled it, and
leaping thereafter quick
On the spearshaft bore the shield to the ground
with his proper weight.
And saving that Bres fell with it, surely then had
his fate
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 213
Been death by the hand of Ethan, and Jochad
cried, " 'Tis a feat
Most worthy a great war champion," and Lugaid
answered in heat
" Such feat had never been mine. Nay, I knew
not this of my sires.''
Whilst Ethan smote with the sword on the helm
with its jewelled fires
Which gleamed on the sward beneath him and
shore away half its crest,
Then raising his hand again he smote it against
the breast
Wounding above the mantle, but his blade on the
buckle broke ;
Whilst Bres, being mighty, arose, and struck him
down with the stroke
Of his spearshaft laid to the neck, whilst we
shuddered as Ethan fell ;
But Bres set his shield above him, and we trusted
all should be well,
When Bennan, that came by stealth from their
fences to watch that strife.
Thrust under the shield his spear. Then Ethan,
leaving his life.
2 14 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Set eyes on Bennan and knew him and said,
" With me there is bliss,
But the giver thereof I bless not, for love was not
in thy kiss."
Thus died he, and Bres was moody in shame, but
naught he spake
Striding in wrath from Bennan. Then, for God
and my kingdom's sake,
I bade Aci son of Alghuba go swift to the son of Kain,
And command him into my judgment, and swiftly
return again.
He ran, and he came on Bennan, and caught him
round by the waist
Lifting him high though he fought in the arms
which his girth enlaced
Until Aci strode in our trenches. No blood in
that strife was shed.
But ere Buman was thrown before me, the soul
from his black lips fled.
And he went to the Lord of Judgments. Aci
returned with his corse.
Having message from God and his queen, he
wrought it with mighty force.
Oh great was our mourning for Ethan, but holy
our joy likewise.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 215
We laid on his brow in the sidhe a champion's
helm as his prize,
Whose badge was my spray of Olive. There
they dwell with his dust
Beside the waters of Unna, but his glory shall
never rust.
Chapter XXVIII
( I ) Nuadh leads his forces in three bands against Balor of the
Mighty Blows, and Lugaid doth many deeds of valour in
the centre of the fight ; (2) The miledh upon the right
are harassed, and Nuadh trusting to slay Balor with his
darts ; is slain by him. Indech presses sore upon the
miledh until Ogma and Indech fall by each other's spears,
Lugaid comes from the centre and slays Balor, retriev-
ing the battle of the miledh ; (3) Tephi watches the fight-
ing of Jochad and the men of the land who are victorious
against the Firbolgs ajid Canaanites ; (4) The Queen
gives pardon to Bres and Tethra at their fences, and the
slain of Balor are counted by Van Cendach his scribe ;
(5) Tephi maketh a song of instruction for the priests to
sing to the people.
(i) On that day we arose ere dawn, and the heaven
was black with cloud
As we mustered our men on the hillslope, but of
surety my heart was proud
2i6 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Whilst they sung the warsong I made them.
" The Kings arise unto fight." *
Marching so strongly and proudly mine eyes
grew wet with the sight ;
For the most part had been but yeomen and
herdsmen out of the field,
Not men of war from their youth, nor feared I
that such would yield
To the knives and stones of the Sgiaths, but
dreaded the long-stretched wall
Of the coastfolk guarded in armour, and the force
of the men not small.
For their Firbolgs, I feared them little. The
horsemen of Dan should sweep
From our flank and ride amongst them, and slay
and drive them like sheep,
And the plain was too rough and soft for chariots.
I recked not of these.
But their strength with Balor and Indech and
Bres and the men of the seas
In three lines like a thorny fence. The first,
low couched to his shield
* Afraigid rig don cath. This warsong of Tephi's still exists,
but I have been unable to meet with a translation.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 217
Till a rampart of bronze and hides stretched end-
less across the field
With strong thorns of death before it, whilst they
that behind it stood
Bare javelins very many which sprouted thick as
a wood.
Upon these were cords of leather to the end that
being cast
They are not lost in the hurling but unto the
wrist bound fast,
To be drawn again to the seafolk. Lastly, with
slings and darts
Stood their slaves to aid their forefront. So now
with the thought that starts
Unbid to the lips, I ordered my Breogan to
shorten the line.
But the fourth of our foes already, till the ranks
of their men were nine,
And break them upon the centre. This Nuadh
and Lugaid approved.
As Nuadh rode out to the right, and down on
their left-hand moved
With the horse of Dan and his miledh. The left
was my husband's place
2i8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
With the multitude of our people, to carry them
face to face
Through the swarming Sgiaths and Firbolgs,
before Breogan upon their right.
Right royal he rode with his people, and cheered
their hearts for the fight.
At the centre Lugaid rode round his column his
spear in his hand
Singing " Arotroi cath comartan." * Then hurl-
ing his ninefold band
On their triple line it parted. So scattered their
swarm and brake
In surges upon his phalanx, but our shield-wall
it might not shake ;
And there was Ochtriall the leader of the fomorcs
of Uan slain,
And the might of Omna and Bagna their
champions wasted in vain.
There Luad struck down Loch Lentglass a mighty
warrior in strife
Where he lay on the ground unsworded, and
Lugaid gave him his life.
* A song which Lugaid made against paying tribute to the
Fomorians. It still exists.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 219
(2) But our right-hand had nowise prospered. Brave
were the men and true
Of the miledh that followed Nuadh, but their
ranks were wasted and few ;
Their horsemen stayed by the clayfields. Thus,
or ever they drew anear
To the line of Balor, in places where no man
might thrust with the spear,
Rushed Firbolgs swiftly upon them, and hurled
forth darts and were fled ;
So that many were wounded amongst them, and
three captains of hundreds dead.
Ere they came to the wall of Balor. Then
Nuadh, though old, was rash,
Beholding his ancient foeman, and went out
swiftly to dash
Upon him ere any might stay him ; so, shouting
his name, rode in
On the line and brake it asunder, and thought
by that deed to win
The fight against Balor and slay him, hurling
with mighty force
The one of his spears, which wandering, pierced
but the head of a horse
220 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Before the chariot of Balor. Then his second
javelin he threw.
On the brazen shield of Balor, raised slantwise,
it glanced askew,
Smiting Cannan, brother of Bennan. Then,
grasping strongly his last,
Rode Nuadh to strike down Balor; but even
now as he past
One smote the heels of his horse, and rearing
upwards it fell.
Whilst Balor forth from his chariot leapt in the
hate of hell
With an iron craisech, and slew him. Then
fiercely forward his men
He drave on the miledh of Eriu, who weary
came from the fen
And, sad with the falling of Nuadh, slow and
sullen drew back,*
Until Indech curving his men from the left-hand
horn in attack
Beside them, many were slain; and Indech,
passing behind,
* It was at this point of the fight that Tephi's sister Maacha
was slain, as mentioned before.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 221
Drew forth in the field with hope our camp
unguarded to find.
Therein was his greed reproved, for Ogma, with
chosen guards
Of the Danites, was set to keep me. Moreover,
the scribes and bards
Had each one a champion's spear. E'en the
priests that came with us to pray.
And the cooks sang " afraigid rig don cath " on
that mighty day ;
With^neatherds, swineherds, and boys who each
had darts in his hand.
So great had been Gabhran's zeal that these
looked like a warrior band
Behind the stakes we had planted. Thus,
Indech halted anear
To behold, and Ogma, the loved one of Jochad,
couching his spear,
Rode forth with a troop against him, and Indech
stooping his head,
Rode also, till piercing each other, those
champions fell down dead ;
And a great cry rose from our fences; but on the
horsemen of Dan
THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Rode o'er their fallen leader, and each one slew
him a man
Of the fomorcs, and over our fence came
trooping the carles with spears,
Till the hearts of the men of Indech being
smitten with idle fears
They fled to their ships from the battle ; yet our
need was sore on the right.
Where the men of Dan, with the miledh, stood
back unto back to fight
As a rock that wastes by the sea-wave, till
bringing the central wedge
Of our fight, bright Lugaid appeared beside them
to set the edge
Of the Breogan sword on the fomorcs, and
sweeping as chaff their slaves,
Parted that sea which girt them as a vessel
parteth the waves.
Then, taking a keen-edged stone, a champion
stone, for his sling.
He sent it amidst their chariots, and smote down
Balor their king.
For it struck and went out behind him. Then
riding on in his wrath
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 223
He spake with his spear unto many, bidding the
soul fly forth,
To do service still unto Balor.
(3) Meanwhile mine only delight
And terror had been that day to gaze on our
left-hand fight.
Where I saw the throngs go steady, with one
crest moving o'er all,
The tallest and brightest there. Ah me, if that
crest shall fall!
Now, in midst of the plain, sore is that host
beset.
The Firbolg flood is around it. That helm is
not stooping yet.
See, for a moment it bends. Behold there
cometh a troop
Barekneed. These be Loshken's kin. He
rideth head of the group.
His plaid flies wide from his brooches. He
beareth a mighty brand.
His fosters with targes are by him to aid him on
either hand.
224 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
Is it Aci that stniteth his fosters ? I see but the
shining crest
Stoop twice and Loshken is fallen. Deep is the
wound in the breast
Of Loshken-lomu Mac Lomglain, who carried
his barekneed kernes
Out of Sgiath north unto Scetna, where the
northernmost ocean churns
Upon rocks that are white with seafowl. Now
are the white knees spray
Before Jochad and Aci riding, and swiftly it dies
away
As they hammer the bronze of Breogan. Behold,
it bends with the strain.
Yea, shout with joy, it is broken. Nay, it is
mended again.
Eriu is slow going backward, yet steady from
rank to rank.
There cometh a host of horsemen, and driveth
upon the flank.
Yea. Bres with his horsemen rideth. Surely now
shall they flee.
Let my prayer be pure with the Lord who hath
holpen me on the sea.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 225
Yea, though the hail pass over. Yea, though
the billows roll,
The Lord is the Stone of my corner, the strong
defence of my soul.
Great are their shoutings and strivings, great is
the clashing of swords.
The heathen are mighty and many ; their leaders
are chosen lords ;
But that helm goes hither and thither, as a fly-
ing star o'er the strife.
It brightens the heart of our battle. It flashes
where men yield life
For God and for Eriu and me. The grasses are
stained with gore.
But that heaving ceases. Oh sternly doth Eriu
flow once more
Against the bulwarks of Breogan. Lesser is now
their band.
Yet more swift and fierce than aforetime. Who
at this hour may withstand
These trusting in God and their captain, these
lifting a crushing wrong
Which bowed the necks of their fathers. Needs
must that their will be strong
p
226 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
To buy with their blood this battle. Here Richis,
the proud man, fights,
By Tuiren the son of Malek. The lofty, my
champion smites ;
And Tuiren is slain by Aci ; but the horsemen
again draw near.
By the left they pass behind us, and now they
ride on the rear.
Scarce do they smite our hindmost, ere Ethdan
Cometh at speed
With horsemen of Dan behind him. He helpeth
our sorest need.
They be many, and Dan but few, yet Dan hath
made him a track
Betwixt the foe and our footmen. No one of my
own turns back
To look on Sodom behind him. Each presses
on to the mark
Where the gleaming golden helmet is set as a
guiding spark.
(4) It is even^ lo, they are yielding. Yea, they have
called me a witch ;
But I know the distant slaughter. I hear their
cries in the ditch
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 227
That lieth before their fences. My soul may no
longer stay.
I mount the white steed of Jochad. Full swiftly
I ride away
With tears and blessings behind me. Now Jochad
and Lugaid form
Their force to a single band in the field for the
final storm,
As I find the son of Alghuba, and bid him pro-
claim that now
The Queen brings word from the Lord that all
who have need shall bow
Before her and take her ransoms. This message
therefore he cried ;
But over the speartopped fence no voice of a
man replied.
Then, knowing many should fail ere ever its fruits
were won,
And grieved in my heart thereof, I carry my horse
alone
Nigh up to the trench and speak, and awe is on
those within
From the Lord, for they deem that I alone in His
strength shall win
228 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
The gates of their fence, so they hear, and these
were the words that I said.
" Is there any wounded within ? Is there any
man sore bested ?
I have leeches to tend his hurts. I have succours
to help his heart.
Moreover, if any wouldgo, I give him grace to depart
Unharmed if he go in peace to his land ; or, if of
mine own,
I bid him kneel unto David, and seek his grace
of my throne.''
Then heard I voices within, and after a space
spake Bres.
" Oh Queen, which lot were my portion ? I
would not add less to less.
But more unto more. As yet, my spearmen are
more than thine.
We have strength in our fence. On our spears
the sun with the morn shall shine.
Yet, if thou holdest thy word, I promise that
never more
Shall the taxings made for the miledh go forth
from thine island shore."
" Is this the gift of a champion that would not
grow less and less ? "
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 229
I said, "Such gifts, not his own, shall not be
worthy of Bres.
Go seek Elatha, thy father. Go spend the rest of
thy days
In ridding the seas of robbers. Thus win thee
a champion's praise,
That thy name be increased with blessing, and
sink no more 'neath a curse.
There be good and evil before thee. Why set
thy hand to the worse ? "
Then Tethra chided with Bres, and said " We be
overthrown.
Why should we longer bide? The half of my
men are flown.
And Tuirbhi our smith is wounded. Let us take
the message she gives.
Now Balor and Indech are slain, what man should
vouch for our lives ?
Whilst small hope is ours of a booty." Yet think
I be moved not Bres,
For he answered to me alone. " Behold, I am
less and less,
Yet fain would be more and more. Therefore,
oh Queen, I will go
230 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
In the name of thy Stone hereafter ; seeking thy
grace with woe
For all I have sought with evil." Then said I
" Peace unto thee,
That the blessings of wise Elatha shall rest be-
twixt thee and me.''
Then back ride I to my folk whilst swiftly the sky
grew gray,
Bidding all return to the fence, where I sank at
close of that day,
Being faint, but thankful of heart; and none
enquired of my deed,
Yet men of the fornorcs told it, and mighty then
was the meed
Of my praise, though some of the miledh fain had
plundered the foe,
And murmured that after his binding, I loosed
him and let him go.
Yet our spoils were great in the field, for Uan
Cendach, their scribe.
Came forth at the morn, and he named us the
names out of every tribe.
Of kings and chiefs that had fallen. Of kings
were forty and two.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 231
And of chief men very many, whilst these on our
side were few,
Save that Nuadh and Ogma lay dead. Five
thousand sixty and three
Was his counting of all their slain. Whilst the
tale which was brought to me
By En the son of Eschmun was sixteen hundred
and five.
Nigh the half of whom were miledh. These seek
not for God to strive.
But for gold and crowns and pillage. Having
nor child nor wife,
Such lust as steeds after battle, and take a life
for a life.
Therefore I bade the priests uplift in men's ears
a song
Of the things which under the Lord should unto
the queen belong.
(5) Peace with the Lord*
The Lord with man
* Literally, Peace to heaven.
Heaven to earth.
Earth under heaven.
A strength for all peoples.
See lines on title page and at end.
232 THE BOOK OF TEPHl
Man 'neath his Lord
Hath strength to plan.
I would not behold in a wide realm, dear to me
Shame of sisters,
Brothers unbridled,
Seedless summer.
Or plains unpastured.
Captives kingless.
Wise men witless.
Preachers prayerless,
Or any uncleanness.
Rulers unrighteous,
Unjust judges.
Rich men robbers,
Or strong men spoiling.
Undutiful daughters,
Strengthless soldiers.
Betrayers of truth,
And workers of wickedness,
Such will I shame.
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 233
Chapter XXIX
( I ) Eocaid after the fight at Magh Tuiread {Moytura, the plain
of towers, from the numerous burial heaps there) is
•wounded well-nigh unto death by Cethlenn the wife of
Balor ; (2) He is healed, yet not to his former might, by
Diancecht ; (3) Tephi, journeying eastward, telleth the
shameful death of Crimthann.
(i) In the midst of mourning, my pride had fall,
being led astray.
The Lord had lifted me up. The Lord should
cast me away.
Till my pride was humbled before him. My
husband, my lover, my friend.
How great that morn was thy strength ; how near
that eve was thine end.
I sat in my judgment place, and my soul was
lifted to see
The widow of Balor draw nigh to ask a grace at
my knee,
Cethlenn,* of evil mouth. Men builded her
husband's heap,
* Literally "of the crooked teeth.''
234 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And she prayed her burial with him. Then said
I, "Ye hold too cheap
My word from the Lord against Baal. Behold,
his burnings shall cease.
I will break the horns of his altars, that so my
people have peace."
Then leapt she upon my side, upraising a little
knife,
And thrusting it down upon me, thought to have
had my life ;
But Jochad, springing upon her, lifted her hand,
and tore
The blade from her grasp, but in struggle, it fell
and it scratched him sore
By the foot. Then I bade men take her and
carry her over sea ;
And thereafter had will to slay her, yet Jochad
let this not be.
He said how his hurt was little, thus had I com-
fort awhile ;
But turning my face on my lord for counsel, I
saw the smile
Die out of his face, and he staggered, for poison
was in that wound.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 235
And his eyes were darkened before me, and he
stretched himself on the ground.
(2) Six months my watchings endured, and my
sorrow and toil were great,
Ere Diancecth, the mighty healer, cured him, yet
not to the state
Wherein he had strength before. Of his limb he
was ever lame.
Yet his hurt was healed of the Lord to bring him
a righteous fame,
For he read in the wisdom of God, and drew the
learned in schools.
And taught the scribes till they marvelled.
Moreover he set the rules
Of the three-year meetings at Crofinn, where that
chamber ample and round
Is builded, wherein I will stretch me until my
bones shall be found,
Whensoe'er my White Champion seek me.
There will I dwell alone.
Whilst this land that I builded up by its idols
is overthrown.
236 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And the workings of evil amongst ye. The
heathen shall swarm with the waves,
To seek the tombs of my children, and wash
them out of their graves.
Ernmais and Figol and Elier have counselled of
this with me.
My tomb shall rest with my people. Their
wailing place shall it be
For ail that repent them of sin. Of Ernmais
the Lord was the eyes.
Yet Jochad had many visions, and therefore men
called him wise
"011am Fothla" the sage of our island, a title
whereby he is known
Unto many tribes and peoples the furthest from
Eriu's throne.
(3) In the Springtide, glad at his healing, we journeyed
out of the West,
With Jochad borne on a litter, and he made his
chiefest request
That the miledh be given to Lugaid, who went
not back unto Spain,
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 237
But set his hand upon mine, and sware with me
to remain,
My brother, my champion, my servant. Right
well hath he kept his word.
Cleansing the woods of robbers, and striking
down with the sword
All pirates that harried our shores ; with the
vessels of Bres as his aid.
Our hamlets and homesteads had rest, and our
women walked unafraid.
But now, he would go against Crimthann, and
therein I answered him " nay.
His faith was broken with David. The Lord is a
lion in his way."
This was beheld of many, for Crimthann had
kept the shore.
And guarded our eastward rear to keep by the
oath he swore ;
Yet brake it in working evil, riding for spoil at
his will.
His mighty men even now were set beside Usna's
hill;
And there, as he hunted the woods, my complaint
was heard of the Lord ;
238 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
For Crimthann, the mighty champion, fell not
down by the sword
But stoned unto death by swineherds. He had
cast forth his hunting spear,
And rode alone in the birchgroves to follow a
wounded deer,
Which fell near the plundered swinepens. Then
when in his wrath he came
Where the famished swineherds stripped it, they
rose, and he died in shame.
Then set I his men with the miledh, and Lugaid
had toil with these,
But, as master of all endeavours, he drew these
wolves round his knees.
Till they fawned as they fawned not on Crim-
thann, licking the palms of his hand
For the feastings at Lugaid's table, and his praise
which was great in the land.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 239
Chapter XXX
(l) At Tailtea" a firstborn son is given unto Tephi, and she
beholdeth the blossom of her seed which she had planted ;
(2) she makeih a confession of sin and its punishment,
and admonishes her children thereby, revealing many
things unto them.
(i) At my fortress three months I rested, and a
strong man-child I bear
To my husband, my firstborn, Aed; now my
infant was very fair.
Till I loved him more than my land, and my
heart was severed irom God.
The Lord that gave him hath taken. I am sore
chastised with His rod.
Yet the morn that I carried my firstborn forth
'neath the summer sky,
How sweet were all scents and sounds, and how
lovely my land did lie,
For the field was rosy before me that once was
mantled with green ;
And Maistiu, clapping her hands, said, "Praise
be to thee great queen,
* The strength or stronghold of Teia.
240 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
For thou spreadest fair carpets in Eriu, thy
carpets out of the East
Whereon her children walk softly, her cattle make
gladdest feast."
In wonder I said, "What mean ye?" She
answered, " That seed of thine
Thou plantedst last year with care, behold it
before thee shine
^^'here it spreadeth on all the field. Thereon do
thy oxen feed.
It shall grow beside all rivers, for we call it our
Rigan's seed.*
Now other seeds that I brought from the ships
had been saved alive.
In my garden of Tailtea I set them, and some
had the strength to thrive,
\\'hilst many withered and died. Yet that linen-
seed, with a flower
Like the heavens, was much increased, till men
said that the richest dower
Which Tephi brought to the land was seed that
I plucked by the way
* Clover. See design on cover.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 241
When I went through the grasses from Egypt.
The Lord was my Stone and my stay
When little I guessed His purpose. Few things
are yet to be told.
My body is worn and wasted, though by days
and by years not old,
With long service in aid of this people, in strivings
and sorrows oft.
Though my love stood by me to ease me, behold
my couch was not soft.
Our judgments and laws and teachings, are they
not writ in the book
Of En the scribe and his son, wherein he that
hath skill may look.
My psalms are laid with the priests. My songs
do the harpers sing.
May my heartsongs bring cheer to many, my
psalms find grace with the King,
When I have rest after toiMng. Yet one deed
the Lord hath known,
And two most dear, but in part. This sin of my
soul will I own
Ere I rest in the hope of Jacob.
242 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
(2) Ye know how I loved my son,
My firstborn, believing that he should be mine
anointed one,
Returning in glory to Zion, nay, spake my hope
unto all.
As he dwelt right fair on my bosom. Ah, why
must my soul recall
His tomb. I will seek him to aid him. — When
Ainge my daughter came,
I gave her a foster-mother, which thing was often
my shame.
Though she loved me, soon she left me, for a
husband that deals not well
With my Prince, and hath spoiled the trapdams
he set in the stream to swell
Its course ere it passeth seawards ; and cares not
fresh farms to win
From the wolf and the bear, and the bringing of
sheep and of oxen in.
Were he not grandson of Nuadh mine anger had
been more sore. —
Why do I shrink and wander ? God bids me
eat to the core
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 243
The apple of Sodom I planted. — My third babe
lay at my side,
Strong and sturdy and fair, yet little in him was
my pride.
I remembered not how I mourned after love in
the house of my sire.
My firstborn alone I cherished, till a message
went forth as fire
From the Lord. My first born strove in evil rage
with the Queen,
Who chastised not his froward angers ; whilst
Angus I had not seen.
But left him in Maistiu's sunhouse,* who ever
sung by his bed.
Then went I thither and found my blind sister
with bended head.
Threading a sign on the breast of the babe, and
I asked her thereof,
For that mark I knew not. She said, " Many
righteous his sign shall love.
For deep in the still night watches I heard, as it
were a voice
* Grianan. The separate house of a woman of rank.
244 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Of one old, compelling mine heart, which said,
' Oh virgin, thy choice
With God is seen of His eyes. He giveth into
thy hand
His token of blessing and sorrow, that thy soul
may understand
In the dark, and believe His glory. Moreover, it
shall be set
As a sign on the child thou lovest. Though his
sorrow cometh not yet,
Nor his blessing till times appointed. Take this
in thine hands to hold.
Setting lips thereon that it bless thee. Let thy
fingers veil it with gold.
For a sign unto nations and times that the Branch
shall ever abide.
Which out of a double thorn is parted on either
side,
As the props of the Vine I planted.' " Then
knew I of whom she spake.
And thought of my firstborn, and chideth sore in
my wrath for his sake,
Then, seizing the four-thorned charm which
Maistiu had bound with gold.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 245
I broke from my babe its strings, and deep in my
garment's fold
Bore it swift to his brother ; but the lad in an
evil mood
Flung it on earth before him, setting his feet on
the wood.
Which pierced his heel, and he angered, and set
his teeth to my wrist,
For the serpents arose up in him. * Then lo,
ere ever I wist
That any man came, one spake, and said, " Wilt
thou strive with God ?
Thou art even a foolish daughter. Thou settest
thy back to the rod.
Thou hast robbed one child of his blessing. Thou
hast brought his fellow a curse.
Thou knowest the serpents with him. Thou
makest their venom worse.
That which thou sparedst to slay, shall sting even
him and thee
In that day when he doeth great evil. Then
truly thy mourning shall be,
" Aedh is reported to have had three serpents in him, which
would have destroyed the kingdom of his mother but for his death.
246 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
That long time hast not wept for Zion. Thou
art proud in thine own estate.
Thine eyes shall be pools of salt, thine affliction
be very great.
This fourfold thorn shall tear thee. To thy sister
make plain thy sin.
David shall come not to Zion till pardon by this
he win,
And he findeth one pure of heart, and perfect
before the Lord,
And patient beneath these thorns his city is not
restored."
Now I lay down under his feet, but saw him
turning to go.
Whether spirit or man I know not, but he bore
the mark on his brow
Of that sign, and it shone above me as I lay on
my face and wept
Long time, whilst Aedh had fled. Then back to
Maistiu I crept
With sorrow bound to my heart, and wept on her
breast and prayed ;
And at mom I bade that a wall by the door of
my house be made.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 247
Whereon ye have seen me weep over Zion through
every fast.
Nigh twenty years have I wept, but my weepings
are overpast ;
For I go unto Him that made me. Yet, weep
ye my children still.
Weep not your mother, but weep over Zion by
my burial hill.
Tea Mur, my wall, ye shall call it ; but David's
Lord must ye know
If your feet would carry you backwards to con-
quer his final woe.
I give you words of remembrance, see that the
same ye bind
On your foreheads to save from idols, and trea-
sure them in your mind,
" Captivity, Bonds, Destruction." * Keep these,
being mindful of me.
And this fair isle shall be safe from every robber
by sea.
Yet these ye will not remember. I see the ships
in the bay,
* These three words seem to have been so often in Tephi's
mouth, that later bards call Aedh, Angus and Cermad her sons
by them.
248 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
When brother slayeth his brother. Again, I be-
hold the day
When the Son of Sorrow brings sorrow. Then
Cometh the bull to gore.
Then my Rock is set upon him. Behold, I may
speak no more.
My secret sin is upon me, yet sought I its burden
might be
Lifted away from my son, and the whole be laid
upon me.
Ah me, is it three years only ? It is longer than
all my life
Since Corrgenn came from his hold to bide near
us, bringing his wife,
A brother's daughter to Grisbane, and like as the
twain were twins.
Then our hearth had little honour, and two were
slain in their sins.
An eric was proffered before us, as for the son of
a queen.
But Jochad judged that this island were an eric
all too mean
For me, and for David's heir,if slain in an idle strife.
Yet the Lord of David slew him. Let Corrgenn
deal with his wife,
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 249
And that other corpse alone. Betwixt him and
the Lord these lay ;
And my soul bowed down unto Jochad and rose
not to say him " Nay."
Therefore Corrgenn bear both unto Ailech, and
no man went by his side,
And of shame and his toil he turned his face to
the wall and died,
Leaving his lands and people, and the care of
that place to me,
So went I forth with my servants Gabhran and
Imcheal to, see
The grave, and raised up a tomb as they build in
the land of the Greek,
A rounded chamber of stone that climbeth up to
a peak
In circles of flags as it narrows, the most fair in
this land, and alone
Upon Ailech my sins are heavy, and heaped to a
pillar of stone.
There mine eyes were pools of salt, and also
Jochad and ye
And the men and babes of my people were one
in their grief with me.
250 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
Chapter XXXI
A lamentation of Tephi wherein she giveth ijistruction.
To be sung to the harp upon the two thousand four hundred and
eighty fourth day.
O, MY CHILD, O, Aedh my firstborn, and O, Aedh my
firstborn child,
That lay small and warm on my heart and looked in
mine eyes and smiled
As a flame * thou hast seared my breast, and wert by
a flame beguiled.
O, fair was my strong son Aedh, and O Aedh, my
strength, was fair.
The skies were seen in his eyes. The sun was set
in his hair.
The Mighty hath slain my son. I mourn, yet He
might not spare.
O, mine eyes are rivers of tears, and O, rivers of tears
are mine eyes.
I sat in the seat of folly. I walked not amongst the
wise.
I sowed a seed of destruction. Its fruits are foulness
and lies
* Aedh, a flame.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 251
O, let evil be upon Canaan, and O, upon Canaan be
every ill.
Why hale ye their women hither, that are harlots on
every hill,
That are brazen in dances to Baal, that are wanton in
all their will ?
O, hear me, my chosen, my husband, and O, my
husband, my chosen, hear.
I have erred and have done great evil. My burden
is heavy to bear.
This mocking was mine not thine. Yet my shame
hath been thine to share.
O, heed me Angus, my son, and O, Angus, my son,
take heed.
Thy brother is black in the pit. He stinks as a
rotten reed.
Thou bearest the Branch of blessing. Thy Stone is
chosen for seed.
Yet I know thee, O, Angus, my son, and O, Angus,
my son, I know
Thy pomp and thy pride of heart. Thy flame
burneth on and fro.
It flasheth fire in the sky. Its light is sunken and low.
252 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
I divine thee, O Angus, my son, and, O Angus, my
son, I divine
Thy spirit unscarred by the thorns. Thou shalt seek
but the gold of that sign.
Thy heart is not with the High One. With sinners
thou sittest at wine.
I behold thy grave,* O, my son, and thy grave, O,
my son, I behold.
Thy grave-mound is glorious and great. Thou
graspest there on thy gold.
Yet the heathen shall find thy hoard ere the hill of
thy height wax old.
O, thy treasure is heaped upon earth, and O, with
earth is thy treasure-heap.
Thou art e'en as the kings of Egypt. Thou sinkest
down in thy sleep.
But thieves shall find thee therein, and the snail and
the slow-worm creep.
Thy toiling is waste, O Angus, and, O Angus, waste
is thy toil.
' Oingus, of the Brugh, is now best remembered by this
enormous tumulus, which was plundered by the Danes.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 253
Thy masons build thee a mansion. The spoiler
shall make it a spoil,
For thy zeal is not unto Zion, nor thine heart
anointed with oil.
O, may the bright reign come by thee, and O may
my white king come.
His sheep he leadeth in spirit. He rebuketh them
lest they roam.
He blesseth their lambs in his bosom. They hear
him at eve and go home.
O, hear ye the promise of Israel, and O, Israel, this
promise hear.
Let your watchmen know of the night. Let them
count when the stars grow clear.
Let them strongly shout in the gate if a presage of
dawn appear.
O, rest ye your faith upon David, and O on David
let fealty rest.
In righteous judgments he rideth. His wise men
gaze from the west.
His house on the hill-tops is holy. His symbols
shine on his breast.
2S4 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
O, he rides as a king in glory, and O, in glory my
king doth ride.
The nations are scattered beneath hira. In their
eyries the eagles hide.
As a lion he leaps in his strength. What man shall
his might abide.
O, springs gush out by the Hill, and O, from the Hill
there gush forth springs.
O'er the path of his chosen people, the vessels bear
wealth unto kings.
The ships of the sea pass over. The waters are
white with their wings.
O, broad is the stream of Jordan, and O, Jordan thy
streams are broad.
The seas have set thee in might. No steed shall
swim by thy ford,
Where the House of the High One is builded, the
Holy House of the Lord.
O, now I depart in peace, and O, peace is my part a,s
I go.
I have hved the days of my life. I have joyed and
wandered in woe.
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 255
I am feeble and fain would rest from my travelling
to and fro.
But, O, that day I am fain to behold, and O, I fain
would behold that day.
Raise up the stones from my sidhe. Cleanse ye my
bones from the clay.
Let me see the son of my strength, for my spirit
shall be his stay.
CHAPTER XXXII
Garbh Cliach, the recorder, the son of En, writes of that which
may not be written save upon the hearts of the men of
Eriu.
Now the rest of the acts of Teffia, and how her
sunhouse was made
At Tailtea, the beams of its rafters with wings
of bright birds o'erlaid,
And its hurdles snow under summer, so that
men's eyes were blind
Beholding, and how its porches with plates of
silver were lined ;
256 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
And her purple couches within ; and her crowns
and bracelets of gold,
That often she gave to the bards; and the things
which her shipmen sold
In her mart ; and the peace and joy of her land ;
and her two fair sons,
CEngus the frank and Cermad; and the many
cashels and duns
She set for defence of the sea-coast; and the
mighty forests she cleared ;
And her wide ensample to all men ; and the
grace that in her appeared
Before kings and sages and lowly (for of all men
her speech was known
As a dew that falleth from heaven, and holy
before God's throne.
Yet was troubled in many sorrows alike of bonds-
man and free ; )
And how in Crofinn a house was built that her
rest might be
Beside the assemblies of Eriu to soften their
judgments still.
And stay their sharpness of strife 'neath the shade
of the Great Queen's hill ;
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 257
And how she had many champions and bards
and sages and priests ;
And how men wise in the Lord came from afar
to her feasts ;
And how many kings sent greetings; and how
she was mourned for and wept
Through the whole green isle of Eriu, and women
came where she slept,
Yea, e'en from the utmost islands to shed on her
sidhe their tears,
And planted their flowers about it; — It needs
not that aught appears
In the books of the scribe, for all is written large
on the heart
Of Eriu, although she oft told presage her name
should depart
From our lips for a season, if these by her psalms
be not purified ;
And that if men failed of her trust, her blessing
should be denied ;
Yet, know we well that her blessing shall ne'er
be taken away.
Nor her face be ever hidden, although it be veiled
for a day.
258 THE BOOK OF TEPHI
So also the Heremon liveth, though under his
stones he lie
On the hills * o'er the lake, his glory and honour
shall never die
Of bard and champion and teacher and lifter of
burdens sore,
Which against the might of his word the hands
of his sons restore ;
Till the Firbolgs toil, as in Egypt our fathers
were wont to toil,
On the tombs that they build by Boyne, filling
their pouches with soil
To heap on the secret chambers wherein these
would build their home
At the last ; and thither surely their bones with
the curse shall come
Of our loved one t and not her blessing. Also
men have much grief
Against Ethdan grandson of Nuadh, whom the
unwise chose as their chief
Of the miledh after Lugaid, for he taxeth the
land of its yields
* The Loughcrew Hills.
t Tephi is alluded to merely as "the Beloved" in early
documents.
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 259
Beyond the strength of the aire, and letteth the
woods on their fields ;
And save that Ainge, his wife, is loved of the
people still,
As the child of our OUam Fothla, some surely
had wrought him ill.
Though the bards sing many complaints, the
princes repent no whit.
Therefore Garbh, the son of En the son of
Eschmun, hath writ
These words in this book against them. For our
evils will never cease.
Till the word of Tephi prevail, and her last and
her foremost was " Peace."
Peace unto God in heaven. Let God shine
thence upon earth,
And the Branch shall anoint you with oils of
blessing and praise and mirth.
Sith CO Nem
Nen CO Doman
Doman fo Nim
Nert hi each.
Finis.
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